In times of cold and inclement weather, it's comforting to know you have the proper clothing and a nice, heated living room. Sometimes the clothes homeless people wear are all the shelter they have. Give away that old jacket you think is out of style. I bet a homeless person wouldn't feel the same way about it. Give a book.
Illiteracy is one of the most pressing problems for many homeless people.
If you can't read, you don't get it. Tutor homeless children. Issues of guardianship, immunization requirements, transportation problems, and school fees are chief among the obstacles facing school-age homeless children. Illiteracy starts young. Volunteer at a battered women's shelter.