If you’re looking to help unsheltered residents, there are many ways to help:
- Contribute monetarily
- It is best to donate money to local non-profits and charities instead of directly to individuals, in order to connect them to supportive services.
- Donate clothing and hygiene products (in original packaging). Here are some items shelters are always in need of:
- Soaps, shampoos, deodorants, etc.
- Feminine hygiene supplies
- Oral hygiene items
like toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, alcohol-free mouthwash
- Clothing of all sizes is welcomed but clothing up to 5X or 6X is a high need for both females and males
- Socks
- Shoes, especially bigger/wide-sized shoes
Ensure all clothing items are either new or gently used.
Food Donations - Foods that are typically good to donate include canned vegetables, tuna and crackers, applesauce, and soft fruit bars.
- Cans should have a pull-tab lid to be easy to open.
- Avoid donating things with extreme textures such as granola bars or trail mix. Many of our unsheltered neighbors are not able to see a dentist frequently, and are not able to properly consume tough foods.
- Avoid donating sugary food items like candy or soda.
If you’re looking to donate any of these items to a shelter, it’s always good to call the organization you are looking to donate to know what their specific needs are.
Another powerful impact someone can make comes from volunteering their time.
Volunteers are valuable assets to non-profits and organizations needing extra support to reach goals and connect with local unsheltered residents.
Holidays are a popular time for people to volunteer but that’s not the only time of year when it’s needed.
Here are some additional methods of volunteering that strongly support and positively impact our unsheltered population:
- Tutor unsheltered children to help them continue to attend and do well in school.
- Provide translation services. Speaking someone’s native language helps establish trust, reinforces social inclusion, and could result in connection to important services.
- Connect with local non-profits to see if hosting a fundraiser would be beneficial to their mission. There are various drives that can be hosted all year round.
There are plenty of ways to volunteer so don’t be afraid to reach out and see where your help is needed! Here are some local organizations to contact information if you’re interested in volunteering.
AMIH Housing
Foothills Habitat for Humanity
Salvation Army
St. Vincent de Paul
Stand Up Placer
The Gathering Inn
VOA Home Start
To rent a room to someone who needs a room, contact:
Home Share American River
To rent your home to an individual or family with a Housing Choice Voucher, contact:
Roseville Housing Authority
Placer County Housing Authority, Owner information
Terminology surrounding unsheltered residents is constantly changing. When presented with potential solutions to address homelessness, the ability to change how we speak about unsheltered residents can serve as a strong catalyst for permanent solutions.
Research shows that when someone feels like an “other,” the feeling of isolation exacerbates the effects of poor self-efficacy and low self-esteem, leading to enhanced substance abuse, suicide, and the increased likelihood of mental illness which keeps people on the streets.
Practicing person-first language places the person in front of their diagnosis or their living situation and does not reduce a person down to their illness or adversity.
Examples of person-first language include:
- “person who is unhoused/unsheltered/homeless”
- “person who uses drugs”
- “person with schizophrenia”
There is a lot of information pertaining to homelessness and unsheltered residents. Oftentimes, the information is complex and hard to digest.
While it can seem daunting, informing ourselves of all aspects of homelessness is crucial to creating a safer, more welcoming community for everyone.
Here are a few reliable sources for information: