How to help

Turn good intentions into useful help.

Homelessness touches housing, work, health, transportation, safety, documentation, relationships, and local systems. These guides are organized by the role you can actually play.

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Many small contributions can form a support network. You do not have to solve every problem. Find the part your household, business, church, nonprofit, or agency can do well.
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With the hands of many, the burden is light.

Read the overall OKHomeless approach to connecting immediate relief with longer-term stability and community capacity.

Read the approach

How individuals can help

Help in ways that are useful, respectful, sustainable, and safe for both you and the person you are trying to help.

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How businesses can help

Turn the products, services, staff, space, expertise, and relationships your business already has into practical community support.

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When homelessness is affecting your business

Protect staff, customers, and property while responding to disruptive behavior consistently, safely, and without treating homelessness itself as misconduct.

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Hiring someone experiencing homelessness

Reduce solvable barriers to employment while keeping clear, ordinary workplace expectations and protecting the employee’s privacy.

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How churches and ministries can help

Build a ministry that combines compassion with clear boundaries, reliable information, practical assistance, and partnerships with existing providers.

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For nonprofits already serving people experiencing homelessness

Turn businesses, churches, volunteers, donors, and local government into an organized extension of the work your staff is already doing.

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How other nonprofits can help

Use your existing mission and capabilities to solve one piece of the problem without duplicating homeless-service organizations.

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Roles for city, state, and federal government

A practical, nonpartisan framework for public agencies to improve coordination, remove avoidable barriers, and strengthen the capacity of local communities and service providers.

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Helping face to face

Safety, boundaries, and real-world situations