How to Help the Homeless

Here are some practical things that I believe local churches can do to help homeless families with children, homeless people, and those at risk in our community. One important thing you can do as a pastor is to spread AWARENESS. Our community has a growing number of homelessness and many of the agencies are seeing many homeless families with children.

Permanent and transitional housing is not available. Most government assisted housing in Rutherford Housing is at full or almost full capacity from a report done by Dogwood Trust Foundation in 2021. Adequate and affordable housing is a serious problem in our county.

Several motels in Spindale are serving as make-shift transitional housing or homeless shelters until those affected can find adequate housing. There are couples and single parents, employed, and many children living in these motels. Town and Country Motel charges $240 a week to live there. This is one of the more live-able places, and other motels are much worse as far as safety and livability.

Encourage your congregation to donate much needed toiletries to local organizations that encounter homeless individuals like Chase Corner Ministries, Yokefellow, BASICS, United Way (Leigh Justice and Aaron Watts are working daily w/ homeless population and prisoners exiting justice system). You may also ask other groups like Grace of God Soup Kitchen and Mt. Lebanon Baptist Motel Ministry or Taby from Cornerstone Fellowship Church to see appropriate times you might provide these items to go to homeless.

Great items for homeless are:

  • Band-aids and first aid items

  • Pop top cans and fruit w peel away lid

  • Alcohol wipes or hand sanitizer

  • Bottled water, jugs of water if practical for them to carry into living areas

  • Water purification tablets

  • Plastic eating utensils

  • Toilet paper

  • Feminine hygiene items

  • Wash cloth, towel

  • Back packs

  • Laundry detergent and roll of quarters for machines

  • Places like Chase Corner collects used cooking pots, sleeping bags, blankets to give to homeless

  • Can openers

  • Socks

  • Dish soap

  • Plastic Rubbermaid containers to eat out of or store items

  • Baggies to protect personal belongings

  • Tents, small coolers (Chase Corner saves these to distribute)

  • Dental hygiene items

  • Soap and shampoo

  • Baby wipes

  • Razors

  • Any basic toiletry items

  • Ask Baptist Association for access to tracts, Bibles and spiritual resources appropriate in a homeless environment

The most important thing you can do is PRAY for God to direct how your church might do more to meet transitional needs of families with children in our community and other homeless folks. Few shelters even take families, because of safety and liability issues.

Areas offering transitional housing in our community are Hope Network through Element Church (transitional housing – single women, women and children as space is available). Lydia’s House (only for single women), several substance abuse related housing programs, and Out of the Ashes. Many families and individuals are waiting for housing. Please pray for your neighbor in need.