Apr 22, 2013 3 min read

People want to help the homeless, but sometimes don’t know what to do. The following are ways you can help, suggested by leaders of local homeless agencies.

• Keep a list of the area’s four emergency homeless shelters on your refrigerator. That way, you will know where to refer homeless people for services:

• Avis Arbor – 724-228-1804. For women with or without children (male children must be 10 years of age or younger).

• City Mission – 724-222-8530. For men.

• Washington Family Shelter – 724-229-4306. Single parent with a child or children, couples with a child or children.

• Family Promise of Southwestern Pennsylvania – 724-229-1129. Single parent with child or children, couples with child or children.

Another option is to call 2-1-1 to access health and human resource information in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

• Volunteer. Homeless nonprofit organizations are in need of hands-on help and will appreciate any contribution of time. Consider volunteering your professional services and skills (plumbers and mechanics, for example, have skills that homeless organizations can put to use). Transportation is often an issue for the homeless, who need to get to work or appointments, so volunteer drivers are in demand.

• Donate clothing, food, new or gently used household goods, toys, books and other resources to shelters or churches and agencies that support the homeless.

• Donate money. All programs that help the homeless need funding to operate.

• Teach your children empathy and the value of giving back to the community. Volunteer as a family at a shelter or for a homeless program. Help your children sort through toys and clothes they’ve outgrown and donate them.

• Organize a fundraising event or drive to benefit the homeless at your school, club or place of employment.

• Talk to the homeless. There’s a misperception about homeless people that creates barriers, says the Rev. John Hoffman of Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, which hosts the WeCare Street Outreach ministry every other Monday. “Be nice. A lot of them don’t want to be where they are. To just sit and talk with them, without judging or them getting strange looks, is huge,” said Hoffman. “It makes all the difference in the world to them.”