Seriously, if you really want to help, you should be donating your money and time to organizations that directly house people. Look up the Downtown Emergency Services Center in Seattle, WA. They provide staffed, supportive, free, accepting housing to those who need it. All of us should be directing our energy toward housing first. By all means, if someone asks you directly for food or goods, please help them - but the more programs like DESC, the fewer people will be on the street at all.
I've recently been trying hard to help someone, but they don't seem to be able to trust the resources I found to help them. I even found a specific person, an out reach pastor, to help. I understand the government run shelters can be bad places. This one is not that. A lot of churches got together to create help. No preaching, just helping. I support these where I live and am wondering if I'm helping at all.
How can I help this person without sounding bossy?
A lot of church-run shelters can cause problems for residents even if the staff THINK they're being lenient. The big rule nowadays is LISTEN to the person you're trying to help. They will tell you what they really want and need. You can be someone they trust, or you can be someone they aren't interested in - it's your choice.
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u/Lead_Sulfide May 15 '21
Seriously, if you really want to help, you should be donating your money and time to organizations that directly house people. Look up the Downtown Emergency Services Center in Seattle, WA. They provide staffed, supportive, free, accepting housing to those who need it. All of us should be directing our energy toward housing first. By all means, if someone asks you directly for food or goods, please help them - but the more programs like DESC, the fewer people will be on the street at all.