Wow. This is a great idea. I'm just getting started with mystery shopping, and was wondering what to do with things I buy but do not need, or cannot use.
Thanks for the idea!
An ex-girlfriend of mine, with whom I'm still on good terms, is the director of a homeless shelter. I learned a LOT about the homeless while I was dating and living with her. In addition to many hours speaking with her about the homeless, I spent a lot of time at the shelter and met many of the homeless people there. I also did some computer/network work (pro bono) for the shelter, and volunteered at several functions and fundraisers.
Her shelter is different from most (as far as I know). They require that everyone living there MUST find a job (with help from the shelter, including career training, job search services, clothing for the interview and work clothes). Homeless families AND single adults are allowed to live in the shelter... and families are kept together in a private room in a separate building from the single adults. Everyone is subject to drug and alcohol testing (on the spot!), and NOBODY is allowed to enter/exit the building between 10PM-6AM, unless they were scheduled to WORK during those hours and they must come/go at a time which matches their work schedule if they want to enter/exit between 10PM-6AM. If one of the people living in the shelter fails a drug/alcohol test, their ENTIRE FAMILY is kicked out on the street! Talk about incentive.
At least HALF of their income, while living in the shelter, MUST be placed into a savings account... which the shelter manages for them... for as long as they live there. When they "graduate" from the program, their savings is used to pay for things like security deposit, first month's rent, utility deposits, etc. The whole program is designed to legitimately help people get back on their feet and
support themselves.
Individuals and families can live there for up to 2 years, until they have a job which pays enough to support them, and until they have enough money in the (managed) savings account to get started in a new home. The facility
does not force people to listen-to/participate-in a religious ceremony/event/service as a condition of receiving services.
The facility is usually full. THIS is the kind of program which actually helps people. They do not shelter those who do not want to help themselves. Many, many homeless people also need lots of psychological help. They offer that too...
for free.
Things like blankets & coats (especially during cold weather), clothing, personal hygiene items (including toilet paper, tampons/pads, deodorant, toothpaste, and other items), and non-perishable food items are ALWAYS WELCOME at any homeless shelter.
Most homeless people have psychological/drug/alcohol problems. They don't need your money, even if that's what they ask for. Instead, they need your help to become self-supporting.
Unfortunately, most "homeless shelters" offer ONLY overnight shelter (just a cot to sleep on, usually in a high-crime area) and/or a meal (aka "soup kitchen" ) . While it's a worthy endeavor to feed/shelter homeless people for the short-term, the long-term problem cannot be solved by feeding/sheltering them without providing additional services such as psychological/training services (to solve the underlying problem causing them to be homeless in the first place), employment training (to give them the tools to support themselves), employment search/placement services (to help them find/get a job), and clothing which is required for the job interview... and clothing required for the job itself.
Many/most religious institutions force homeless people to attend religious services... and the homeless people sit through them like trained animals waiting for a meal/shelter... similar to Pavlov's dog. These people are NOT dogs! In my opinion, this accomplishes nothing. It's OK to minister (by example, by deed, and by word) to these people
without coercion of any kind. Coercion includes the promise of a meal/bed in return for listening to a religious service. It is
not OK (in my personal opinion) to
require adherence-to and/or profession-of-faith-in any religious principals, in order to receive shelter/food/clothing.
Those things, in my opinion, are a basic right of humanity. If a person arrived at my door who simply asked for food/water, clothing, and protection from the cold... I would give whatever I am able to give in order so that he/she doesn't die of starvation/dehydration/exposure. I wouldn't ask them to profess their faith in God/Jesus before I gave them a coat or food! Why do these homeless shelters to that?!?!
Sorry for my rant... but I have strong feelings about homeless shelters which provide food/shelter/clothing to homeless people (some with a requirement of religious service)
especially when they don't provide any psychological services, job training, job placement services, or anything else. This is like expecting a 2-year-old child to rebuild an automobile engine without teaching him how to speak!
Don't get me wrong... I know that many seemingly homeless people abuse the charity of people, even if they are able to work. I'm not blind. Offer a meal to a person who is begging by the side of the road with a sign stating that they are hungry. If they refuse the food, but ask for money... you are probably dealing with a drunk/druggie/scammer.
I have personally given my coat to a homeless person on more than one occasion, given them phone numbers of the people they need to contact, and let them use my cell phone to call those people. I have also given them food. Early in my life, I gave money to seemingly homeless people, but I soon learned that they almost always use the money to buy alcohol or drugs. Your charity is much better used if you get them to the help that they actually NEED (as opposed to what they WANT at the moment).
First, make sure he isn't going to die of starvation, dehydration, or exposure to the elements. Then... direct him to a place where he can resolve his emotional/psychological/addiction/unemployment-training issues. Hopefully such a place exists in your area. If not, start one.
EDIT: My wife also pointed out that they can trade things you give them to other homeless people for things they want... like trading a coat for drugs or alcohol. So, be careful about that too... but definitely direct them to services which will help them to dig out of their problems. Additionally, if they really need to eat, drink or get warm... feed them, give them water, and help them stay warm (unless it's apparent that they will trade your blanket/coat for money/drugs/alcohol, of course).
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2014 03:46AM by barnabas1969.