Do a "blanket drive" to collect lots of blankets so they are warm at night. Start a can drive in your community so they have something to eat.

I won't get into politics here - because I have some very passionate feelings about what should be done to take care of the homeless. 30 years ago there were many more programs for the homeless - but lots of those programs have been disbanded over the years.

I agree with LindaJean's comments. Also want to add that work/jobs is needed as many have lost their homes because of losing their jobs. I try and give work to people who work from home when it comes to my home or car. Also programmes are needed to help people who can't find work with their present skills to develop additional or different skills so they can earn money to stay off the streets as well as programmes where people can be given advice or ideas by others who got off the streets and changed their lives etc,, - just giving people hope and encouraging a positive attitude can make such a difference. Ideas such as renting out a spare room can make the difference between keeping a home or living on the street. Churches are a huge force in the community and a soup and sandwich kitchen could make a world of difference to homeless children or a church could have an afternoon child care as who looks after the kids when parents are looking for work. People and businesses in a community could adopt a homeless person or family, its amazing how a little help, advice or casual job can encourage people to get off the streets - "hand outs" are fine for peoples daily needs but they need more, they need "hand ups". Also it doesn' harm kids to help out with community drives or food kitchens and will only enrich ;their own lives. Libraries could help as there are so many good people out there who just don't know where and how to help - libraries could "adopt" a drive, collect food, blankets etc. Sorry to go on so much but I am passionate about helping others.

I agree. So much more should be done for the homeless. It seems like a problem that people have stopped talking about alot

This maybe controversial but recently a sermon at my church was about this very subject. It was said that you can give to those who need what ever it is that they think they need but until they learn that there is a power out there that loves them and cares about their every need and can will supply those every needs, they will never be truely satisfied.

It was realy something for me to think about. Many search and search only to find that what ever it was that they thought they wanted or needed or would make them happy, did not satisfy them in the end.

I think that until we find this peace we will never be satisfied.

" I'm Certainly With You - LindaJean " !

Well I once had the very good fortune of being homeless. It was a wonderful learning time in my life where I discovered my strengths and what I was capable of doing and what I would not do because of my religious and moral beliefs. I met my wonderful spiritual mentor during that time in my life and for that alone I would gladly do it all over again.

Having said all of that, to answer your question Barb, I would suggest helping by making people as accountable as possible for themselves. Simple things like where to get a drink of water in the summer can be daunting to the homeless, or having clean clothes to wear to look for work, where to go to the restroom is another issue.

I would help by not judgeing what put them in that situtation, it is different for each individual, definitely a hand up not a hand out. People have to learn different behaviors or no matter what someone does for them they end up back in the same situtation. I have seen people get all kinds of help to get into public housing, only to be kicked out due to drug and alcohol issues. Others get kicked out for refusing to follow the basic rules.

Education, empowerment, jobs, and improved self esteem are good helpers.

We have the big issue magazine here, which is sold by homeless people and they gt to keep part of the profits plus they are given all kinds of support through the organization and the extra money raised. We also have a more local homeless charity called Shelter Cumry , which does extraordinary work.. And a place called victory outreach, which helps homeless people who have had problems with drug and alcohol addiction and they use animals to help the healing process, they save a lot of abused animals and people, it is wonderful.. They all get a place to live too and the charity is able to buy more and more accommodation thanks to donations.. I give to all of the charities, and when i was younger and used to go out into town at night for meals, i made a lot of homeless friends and would be an agony aunt to them and would usually end up giving all my money away..Most of them just wanted Someone to talk to and listen to them.. I have seen people abuse, hit and spit at them like they were garbage, used to really upset me,..When i got sick, i could no longer do it.. A lot of them were really smart and had just ended up as homeless because of their families .. I agree with all the comments here.. They just need to be treated as humans first, shown a lotta love and some respect, thats how they learn to respect themselves.. Cant imagine a world without care or love.. Some of them never had that. XXXXXXX

Never forget them! They are always swept under the rug and forgotten. They are never mentioned on the news or newspaper. Here in Maine, we have so many homeless families. It breaks my heart. I give what I can to them. I gave blankets and a comforter to them last year. As long as they aren't forgotten, people will always help them.