Unfortunately, homelessness is found everywhere. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, there are well over a half million people without a home on any given night in the United States. This population includes men, women, and children.
While the reason for the homelessness varies for each person and their situation – mental illness, domestic violence, financial difficulties, drug addiction, lack of available resources, etc. – the steps to take to alleviate the problem remains the same.
With the help of a giant tent rental, you can take a step in the right direction to help the homeless in your community.
Donation Storage
Just like everyone, homeless individuals have many needs. These are needs that, due to their circumstances, a homeless person may not be able to meet for themselves. Thankfully, there are many generous people who donate goods that can go toward assisting the homeless.
Donations can pile up, and there needs to be a place to store and protect the donations as they come in. This is where a giant tent can help!
Tents can come in many different customizable sizes and shapes. So, if you have donations for an urban city or for the homeless in a small community, you will be able to have just the right amount of space you need. In addition, while most food donations will be nonperishable, you still will not want the food or any other sensitive items to have exposure to extreme and threatening weather conditions that could potentially waste the items.
Temporary offices for services
Almost any homeless person you encounter didn’t fall into his or her situation for no reason. There are services to help give the homeless a lifeline to get off the street. However, sometimes it is hard to reach them. By setting up service locations in the heart of the homeless community, you will reach the people who need the services the most.
These temporary offices can include giant tent rentals. They come with flooring, sides, and can securely close, they are a perfect option for temporary offices offering links to services for things such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, teen outreach centers, etc.
Soup kitchens
Soup kitchens pop up in areas with a homeless population. These pop-up soup kitchens generally offer a hot meal and, occasionally, necessities such as shoes, clothing, and toiletry items. It takes a lot of work from volunteers to put together this meal for so many people. Because these meals are usually served outdoors, it puts the food and donations at risk of being destroyed by inclement weather. That is a lot of food to be wasted, time to be wasted, and people which remain hungry!
A giant tent rental can make the difference between a satisfying meal and a missing one. Being proactive and protecting the entire area with a tent can have more benefits than just saving the food.
- A tents climate control ability means that it provides a shelter for individuals to take a break from either the heat or the cold.
- Tents are large enough to allow for tables and seating which makes a meal so much more enjoyable.
- By connecting to electricity, tents can house the cooking equipment, too. This takes away the chore of preparing and cooking the meal at a different location and then transporting it.
Temporary Housing
During times of extreme weather, most cities open additional shelters for those who may not otherwise have any. For instance, when the temperatures drop below a certain temperature, tents can act as a temporary shelter. These tents offer climate control – to keep everyone safe and warm.
In addition, certain natural disasters or other emergency situations can leave many people without a home. Tents temporarily house these individuals until they can return home or find another, more permanent, place to go. These large tent structures can allow for exceptions that other shelters or temporary housing may not, such as diverse types of pets.
A little attention can make a difference
Everyone will struggle at some point in life. When that time comes, it can make all the difference if someone reaches out a hand to offer some time, attention, and assistance. Here are some ways to begin making a difference in the lives of those on the streets where you live:
- Partner with local nonprofits or churches in their outreach programs.
- Start with your own donation collection efforts. Determine what they need the most and begin working to collect donations. For example, items such as coats and blankets, socks and shoes, raincoats, etc.
- Prepare gallon-size baggies full of needed items and keep them in your car. These can contain things such toiletries (deodorant, razors, soap, etc.), non-perishable healthy snack-type food items (granola bars, peanut butter and crackers, dried fruits and nuts, etc.), a bottle of water, a pair of socks, and any other item you think can make a difference.
- Deliver hot meals to the homeless in your neighborhood.
- If you have a special skill, volunteer your time to either care for the indigentby providing a service (such as a barber, chef, doctor, dentist, etc.) or offer to teach a beneficial skill set to this population that may help them in their search for employment.
- If you are in a position to help someone with a job, a meal, or a temporary place to live, then do so. You could be that second chance he or she has been hoping for.
- Being a voice for those who are on the streets is desperately needed in so many cities. If you like speaking and advocating for others, this may be the perfect job for you. Be the voice for this often-overlooked population.
These are just a few of the many ways you can reach out. If you are looking to make a difference in your community, do your research to discover the need. Then, grab a giant tent rental and head out to change a life!