Helping the Homeless in Canada
By: Emily Preiss
Tags: Christmas, Donate, Homeless, Volunteering, Holidays

Autumn and winter are exciting times of the year for most people. The weather gets chilly, the leaves change and excitement builds as major holidays approach. People start cooking and baking all of their favourite comfort foods, and the malls start filling with shoppers. I love the build-up to the holidays as much as the next person; however, I can’t ignore the 12,000 people in Ontario who sleep out in the cold while I’m sitting cozy by the fireplace.

Oftentimes, it’s too easy to ignore or dismiss the issues faced by others in our communities, especially when many of us are only leaving our houses for essential reasons. I think most people can relate to walking quickly past people living on the street or avoiding eye contact with the person standing on the corner. It’s easier to feign ignorance than face the truth; there are people all around us facing immense struggle every single day. As the weather gets colder, survival gets even more difficult for unsheltered people and many of them need as much help from the community as they can get. Between January and March of 2018, Toronto Public Health reported nearly two homeless deaths per week, with the average age of the deceased being only 50 years. This statistic is even more heartbreaking when you realize that while unhoused people are dying on our streets, the average Canadian is spending around $1700 on excess food, gifts, travel and alcohol around the holiday season.

Canada’s winters are difficult even for those of us who have shelter. Consider the unsheltered people in your community when deciding where to send donations or gently used items this year.

The fact that we are experiencing a global pandemic makes an already difficult life even harder for the homeless. Shelters are operating at reduced capacity due to social distancing protocols and food banks are experiencing shortages. When you have no home, it’s nearly impossible to find a space to safely isolate. Supporting the homeless people in our communities is critical at a time like this.

It’s not hard, even for busy adults, to make a difference in the lives of unhoused people in their community. Educating yourself and treating people with respect are two ways that cost nothing and take no time at all, and yet, can make a huge difference for someone who is down on their luck. There are many reasons why a person may become homeless: job loss, domestic abuse, illness, lack of affordable housing, etc. Understanding this, rather than looking down at homeless people or viewing them all as addicts, is an effective way to break the stigma around homelessness. Showing respect can be as simple as saying “good afternoon,” or “have a nice day” when you pass someone living on the street. If they are comfortable, striking up a conversation often goes a long way to making them feel respected. Making sure homeless people feel seen, cared about and respected can help them find the strength or motivation within themselves to seek professional support, or to just get through the day. At a time like this, when there is less pedestrian traffic on the streets, a simple act of kindness can make a significant difference.

When the weather gets cold, many people go out and purchase new winter clothing, like jackets, boots, scarves and hats. The old items are thrown in the garbage, stored in a closet, or sent to thrift stores. This winter, consider donating your old winter clothing directly to homeless shelters or outreach organizations. This is another way to help homeless people that costs you nothing but a few minutes of your day. Many organizations that help the homeless are willing to pick-up donations straight from your house, or they offer multiple drop-off locations for your convenience. Something as simple as a used winter coat can protect an unsheltered person from Canada’s extreme winter conditions and offer them comfort, which is a luxury that many do not have. Donations of other gently used items such as blankets, warm clothes and sleeping bags are always welcomed by shelters and homeless outreach organizations.

Autumn and winter are usually a time of shopping and receiving new things. Black Friday, Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day and many other times in the season give us reasons to shop and spend excessive amounts of money. In most shopping malls in December, you will see a Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell and collecting donations. This is an easy way that people can donate to help the homeless because, at some point, most of us will pass through a mall in December. Donating a small amount of your holiday gift budget, or the amount that you would have spent on lunch or a coffee while shopping still makes a difference. If you are choosing to avoid malls and shop online this year, many shelters and homeless outreach organizations now accept online monetary donations so you can help out from the comfort of your own home.

No matter how you choose to help the homeless this year, remember that your contribution will not go unnoticed. Donating money so someone can have a hot meal or a bed in a shelter, giving your old coat a new life, volunteering to help directly, or even just wishing someone on the street a “good morning,” can all be monumental in helping an unsheltered person turn their life around. I encourage each and every person who reads this to extend your holiday cheer and generosity to a stranger in need this year. Encourage your friends and family to do the same and watch the difference that it makes in your community.

For more information on how you can help, please visit https://www.homelesshub.ca/ or https://www.raisingtheroof.org/.