According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, at least two to three percent of the population of the United States will spend one night homeless over a period of five years. That is 5 million to 8 million people. It is important to teach the next generation of adults to become involved in homeless causes.
Volunteer
College-age students can volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Giving a few hours of their time every week to help feed and shelter the homeless can have a huge impact. Look for a community outreach program in your area, or contact local church groups and inquire if they offer services to the homeless that you are able to contribute to.
National Hunger and Homlessness Awareness Week
Students can participate in National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week, which occurs in November. If there are no specific activities for this occurring at your college or university, you can organize food drives or gather donations for organizations that help the homeless, such as UNICEF, or sponsor a walk or other charity event for this cause.
Raise Awareness
Many students choose to spend a night outdoors to raise awareness of homeless causes. College students from Charlotte, North Carolina, spent a cold night in November 2009 in a "shanty town," collecting cardboard boxes and sleeping outdoors with nothing more than the clothes on their back in frigid temperatures. All of this was to intended to start a discussion about the hardships of living on the streets and what everyday people can do to combat this issue.
Tags: homeless causes, National Hunger, spend night