How to Mentor the Homeless

As a nation we need to fight for the homeless.

There are a wide variety of circumstances and causes that lead to homelessness, but a common denominator among almost all persons in that situation is that they can use a helping hand. Perhaps you are in a situation where you can lend that helping hand, but you need to know exactly how to go about doing so. There are actually many ways to mentor the homeless, and these can involve anything from taking on menial tasks, to volunteering your time or donating important items used in homeless centers.

Instructions

1. Inquire at local homeless shelters, soup kitchens and aid centers about their biggest needs when it comes to volunteer support. Locate local homeless centers or organizations dealing with homelessness through the National Coalition for the Homeless. While many homeless shelters find that they have an abundance of support during holiday season, for much of the rest of the year they may find themselves understaffed.

2. Communicate to the director of the help facility what skills you have to offer; you may be surprised as to what the needs of the facility are. Even if you do not have any particular special skills, usually the biggest need is a willingness to work hard to help others, so bring that attitude along with you. Making the time to volunteer regularly at one of these facilities can provide a spark that may even motivate others to volunteer their time as well.

3. Recognize that volunteering your time is not just about taking care of the behind-the-scenes work that must be carried out to keep help facilities running. Mentoring involves taking the time to talk to people. Get to know those who show up regularly at the help facility where you volunteer. In getting to know people's backgrounds you will be better equipped to provide personal assistance or at least make suggestions as to ways that they can be helped.

4. Donate items that can be used for career training and educational purposes. One underlying cause of homelessness is a lack of the necessary skills to obtain and keep a job. Mentoring programs may involve teaching basic skills such as reading, writing and entry-level math. Again, the only way to know if this kind of mentoring is truly the assistance needed by those in the help facility where you volunteer is to get to know those who frequent the shelter.

5. Build relationships in the community. This will allow the help facility to get community support when it comes to projects like fundraisers and donation drives. In some communities people do not appreciate how real the problem of homelessness is, so reaching out to these people allows them to see that it is a real issue that they can do something about.

6. Recognize that not all of the homeless can be helped, nor do they want to be helped. Again, this goes back to the idea of getting to know people. In certain situations people choose to remain homeless for reasons that are beyond the ability of volunteers at a help facility to fix. Making sure to focus on those who are welcome or at least willing to be helped is the best way to ensure that your efforts are not in vain.

References

• Bridge Communities: Volunteer Mentors
• Volunteer Guide; Mentor a Yout Group to Help Homeless Teens; Sandra Bynum

Resources

• National Coalition for the Homeless: Directories