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There is no doubt that opening up a shelter of any sort is a major task. Traditional shelters may be ideal, but being able to find and operate a building can be quite a challenge, especially with the financial side. There is no need to feel discouraged though, as there are many creative methods that can allow you to help the community on a budget! However, you need to be able to think outside the box and put a lot of time into your project.
As previously mentioned, you may need to get a bit creative to see successful results. We know it is possible because there have been many imaginative instances where amazing ideas were brought to life and praised in the community.
Two women from the UK had a vision to keep more people warm and off the streets for the coming winter season. They had a creative and optimistic outlook on the whole concept and turned it into something beautiful. It took several months, money for the rundown bus, and lots of friendly volunteer work. They successfully converted this double-decker bus into a place for people in need to keep warm and safe. It truly is admirable to see and they were able to execute this all on a budget!
Images Credit: Paul Jacobs
Former major of the Marine Corps, George Brown opened up what used to be a hotel and turned into a homeless shelter for veterans. He and his pattern came up with a 4 phase plan to fully accomplish their vision. They planned on creating even more space for guests to stay and they have an idea to have a space in the facility to prioritize consultation for PTSD that any of these veterans may have due to their experiences. They are executing this all based on their funding, but are looking to receive a grant that will help expedite each phase.
This spontaneous act was temporary but much needed because of Christmas. A couple of homeless organizations pledged to organize this entire project. They claimed that it was important that they set this up because of how lonely people get around the holidays. They knew exactly how to execute this plan because these organizations are very experienced in the field. They house and feed people all over the UK and have been a part of hundreds of projects just like this one.
Image Credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Opening up a shelter and spending all sorts of time perfecting the concept is not something a lot of people can do. Of course, this is for several reasons, however, there are many ways that you can help out and make a difference.
Shelters need funding. There are only a limited number of grants one can receive and if it is just a few people on the project, then it can be very difficult to support it from their pocket. Donations are a great way to keep these places operating smoothly. Most of these shelters have websites where you can donate online, but there are also in-person options. Shelters rely on public donations because there are a very small amount of ways to consistently keep the facility running. Just remember that any amount is appreciated and it all goes toward the right reasons.
There are many people out in the community who are looking for more involvement in social issues than just donating. If you find yourself wanting to do more to help then volunteering your time is an excellent option. Any legitimate shelter has any number of positions to be filled because it takes a lot to keep these places running. Whether it is organizing planned events, serving food, or even cleaning up, the help is not only needed but greatly appreciated as these shelters are almost always behind their hectic schedule!
The power that most of us hold in our cell phones is out of this world. Using social media platforms to promote donations and volunteering is the next best option if you are unable to do anything else. All it takes is one post to gain some sort of traction on social media and shelters can see a lot of positive results. This could be a surge in donations or a lot more help or both!
It’s no secret that shelters are a great way to help the local community. People who can work around the capital-intensive aspect of the job are truly admirable because finding different creative outlets is a big challenge. It is unrealistic to expect people to start up a shelter because it can be risky, luckily these shelters have many programs available to the general public that make helping the community much more effective and easy.
