Five Small Ways Everyone Can Help Homeless NYC Students

 

As with many other societal problems, solving our city’s crisis of homelessness can seem like an insurmountable task. This is especially true when one considers New York City’s most vulnerable residents: The 146,000 homeless students in our school system. However, each one of us has the ability to make a difference in the lives of these children and youths. This blog post will explore five small ways everyone can help homeless NYC students. 

Be Kind and Respectful 

Homelessness can be a dehumanizing and alienating experience. So, the simplest - and, in many ways, most effective - act that you can perform is to treat homeless students with the same dignity you would afford any other person. That is, by acknowledging their presence and needs without judgment. If you encounter a homeless student, you should consider any or all of the following acts of kindness:

• Offering a smile
• Engaging in conversation 
• Providing food and resources 

Donate Clothing 

If a homeless family can’t afford stable housing, chances are they can’t afford warm coats or new clothes either. The former is absolutely critical for survival in the frigid winter months. Children without sufficient protection from the elements are more susceptible to illness and tend to struggle in school. New clothes are not only needed to keep up with a growing body, but also to maintain a child’s sense of self-worth. Providing homeless students with both tells them that you see them and care about their physical and emotional well-being. 

Provide Nutritious Food

Hunger and food insecurity ravage the mind as much as they do the body. Hungry students don’t perform as well in school. For many students, the free breakfasts and lunches their schools provide are the only food they’ll see all day. To nourish their developing minds and bodies, not to mention provide a small measure of stability in their lives, you can donate non-perishable groceries to local food banks, pantries and other organizations that work to feed the less fortunate. You can also organize your own food drives and/or deliver snack boxes to needy families. By personalizing your efforts, you make students and their families feel seen and valued. 

Spread Awareness 

We believe that, at heart, most New Yorkers are good, kind people, who want to solve the crisis of homelessness. That said, many either don’t know the extent of the problem or else they don’t realize how easily they can contribute to the solution. Despite the size and complexity of homelessness, many of the most effective solutions are quite simple. However, they will require group effort and political will. After you conduct your research and apprise yourself of the facts, you should share them whenever and wherever you can, be it on social media, to a stranger on the bus or, if necessary, to your local representatives.

Provide Essential Information

As part of your research, you should learn about local shelters, non-profit organizations and other support services available to this vulnerable population. With this information at hand, you can provide homeless students and their families with the tools they need to extricate themselves from homelessness. You might consider printing cards, flyers and other handouts loaded with contact information for the above-mentioned entities.

It goes without saying that Mentor A Promise and its vast network of partner organizations always stands ready to help. 

Contact Mentor A Promise Today 

Our organization recognizes the immense potential within each individual and seeks to provide them with the educational resources and opportunities they need to thrive. To that end, we have built a strong network of family shelters, educational institutions and community organizations to support homeless children, youths and their families. Click these links to learn more about what we offer or to get involved. Together, we can break the cycle of homelessness.