Volunteering can be a meaningful way to address homelessness in your community while developing a deeper understanding of the issues involved. However, not all volunteer opportunities are created equal. This article provides guidance on finding volunteer roles that truly help, align with your skills, and respect the dignity of people experiencing homelessness.
Principles of Thoughtful Volunteering
Before diving into specific volunteer opportunities, consider these core principles:
Center Dignity and Respect
Effective volunteering recognizes the full humanity and agency of people experiencing homelessness:
- Approach volunteering as working with rather than for people experiencing homelessness
- Recognize that people experiencing homelessness are the experts on their own lives
- Avoid savior mentalities that position volunteers as rescuers
- Respect privacy and confidentiality in all interactions
Check Your Motivations
Ask yourself why you want to volunteer. If your primary motivation is to feel good about yourself or to have a transformative personal experience, reconsider your approach. The most effective volunteering centers the needs of the community being served rather than the volunteer's emotional experience.
Commit to Learning
Effective volunteering involves ongoing education:
- Learn about the root causes of homelessness before volunteering
- Understand the specific context of homelessness in your community
- Be open to having your assumptions challenged
- Listen more than you speak, especially when interacting with people who have lived experience
Prioritize Consistency and Reliability
Organizations and the people they serve benefit most from volunteers who:
- Make realistic commitments they can sustain
- Show up consistently and reliably
- Communicate clearly about their availability
- Understand that relationship-building takes time
Finding the Right Volunteer Opportunity
With these principles in mind, how do you find the right volunteer role?
Assess Your Skills and Capacity
Start by honestly evaluating what you bring to the table:
- Time Availability: How many hours per week or month can you realistically commit?
- Professional Skills: Do you have expertise in areas like healthcare, legal services, finance, or technology?
- Personal Strengths: Are you a good listener, organizer, cook, or teacher?
- Physical Capabilities: Some roles may require lifting, standing for long periods, or other physical demands
- Language Skills: Bilingual volunteers are often in high demand
Research Local Organizations
Look for organizations that align with evidence-based approaches to homelessness:
- Housing-focused organizations that prioritize permanent solutions
- Organizations that meaningfully involve people with lived experience in leadership
- Programs that address root causes rather than just symptoms
- Organizations with clear volunteer programs and training
Resources for finding organizations include:
- Your local Continuum of Care (search "Continuum of Care" + your city/county)
- VolunteerMatch.org (filter for homelessness-related opportunities)
- United Way's 211 service directory
- Local volunteer centers or homeless coalitions
Ask the Right Questions
Before committing, ask organizations about:
- Their approach to addressing homelessness
- How they involve people with lived experience in program design and leadership
- Specific volunteer needs and expectations
- Training and support provided to volunteers
- How they measure their impact
Types of Volunteer Opportunities
Homelessness-related volunteer roles generally fall into these categories:
Direct Service Roles
| Role | Description | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Meal Service | Preparing, serving, or delivering meals | High demand but limited impact on root causes; consider organizations that connect meal services to housing resources |
| Shelter Support | Intake, cleaning, organizing donations, overnight shifts | Requires reliability and boundary-setting; most needed during overnight hours and weekends |
| Outreach Teams | Connecting with unsheltered people to offer resources | Requires significant training and usually a longer-term commitment; not suitable for beginners |
| Resource Navigation | Helping people access services and complete applications | Requires knowledge of local systems and patience with bureaucratic processes |
Skill-Based Volunteering
These roles leverage specific professional skills:
- Legal Assistance: Document recovery, benefits applications, expungement clinics
- Healthcare: Medical and dental clinics, health education, medication management
- Financial Services: Tax preparation, budgeting assistance, financial literacy
- Technology: Computer skills training, database management, website development
- Job Readiness: Resume writing, interview preparation, job search assistance
Pro Bono Professional Services
If you have professional credentials, consider offering pro bono services through your workplace or professional association. Many have established programs that connect professionals with nonprofits serving people experiencing homelessness.
Behind-the-Scenes Support
Not all valuable volunteer roles involve direct interaction:
- Administrative Support: Data entry, filing, answering phones
- Facilities Maintenance: Repairs, painting, landscaping
- Donation Management: Sorting, organizing, and distributing donations
- Event Support: Planning fundraisers, awareness events, or volunteer appreciation
- Transportation: Driving clients to appointments or moving belongings
Systems Change Work
These roles focus on addressing root causes:
- Advocacy Committees: Working with organizations on policy campaigns
- Board Service: Governance roles with housing and homelessness organizations
- Community Education: Giving presentations or leading discussions about homelessness
- Research Support: Helping with data collection, analysis, or reporting
- Fundraising: Grant writing, donor development, or fundraising events
Preparing to Volunteer
Once you've found a suitable opportunity, prepare yourself for effective service:
Training and Orientation
Quality volunteer programs include:
- Orientation to the organization's mission, values, and approach
- Training on boundaries, confidentiality, and trauma-informed interactions
- Clear explanation of roles, responsibilities, and expectations
- Introduction to staff and other volunteers
- Safety protocols and emergency procedures
If an organization doesn't offer adequate training, consider it a red flag.
Setting Boundaries
Healthy boundaries benefit everyone involved:
- Be clear about your time commitment and stick to it
- Understand what you can and cannot offer
- Follow organizational policies about personal relationships, gifts, and social media
- Recognize the difference between empathy and taking on others' problems
- Practice self-care to prevent burnout
Volunteering Respectfully
How you approach your volunteer role matters as much as what you do:
Language and Communication
- Use person-first language ("people experiencing homelessness" not "the homeless")
- Avoid terms that infantilize or create distance ("these people," "clients," "cases")
- Listen actively without interrupting or immediately offering solutions
- Ask permission before taking photos or sharing someone's story
- Be mindful of power dynamics in all interactions
Respecting Privacy and Autonomy
- Never share identifying details about the people you meet while volunteering
- Respect people's right to decline services or assistance
- Ask before entering someone's personal space, including tents or shelter areas
- Recognize that people experiencing homelessness are making the best decisions they can with limited options
Avoid Poverty Tourism
Volunteering should never be treated as an opportunity to observe poverty or homelessness out of curiosity. If you find yourself thinking of your volunteer experience primarily in terms of how it affects you or what you're learning, refocus on how you can be genuinely helpful.
Beyond One-Time Volunteering
The most impactful volunteering involves deeper engagement:
Long-Term Commitment
Consider these pathways for sustained involvement:
- Develop specialized skills that meet specific organizational needs
- Take on leadership roles within volunteer programs
- Mentor newer volunteers
- Join committees or working groups
- Advocate for the organization in community settings
Integrating Volunteering with Other Actions
Maximize your impact by combining volunteering with:
- Financial support for the organizations where you volunteer
- Advocacy for policy changes that address root causes
- Education and awareness-raising in your personal networks
- Supporting affordable housing in your own neighborhood
- Voting for candidates who prioritize housing and homelessness solutions
Conclusion
Thoughtful volunteering can make a meaningful difference in addressing homelessness while deepening your understanding of the issues involved. By approaching volunteer work with humility, commitment to learning, and respect for the dignity of people experiencing homelessness, you can contribute to both immediate support and long-term solutions.
Remember that the most effective volunteering is consistent, aligned with your skills, and part of a broader commitment to addressing the systemic causes of homelessness. Start where you are, with what you have, but always keep the bigger picture in mind.
References & Further Reading
- Points of Light. "The Volunteer Generation Fund: Expanding Volunteering Through National Service." Points of Light, 2023. https://www.pointsoflight.org/
- Corporation for National and Community Service. "Volunteering in America." AmeriCorps, 2023. https://americorps.gov/about/our-impact/volunteering
- National Alliance to End Homelessness. "What Can I Do to Help People Experiencing Homelessness?" NAEH, 2023. https://endhomelessness.org/what-can-i-do-to-help/
- Mitchell, T.D. "Traditional vs. Critical Service-Learning: Engaging the Literature to Differentiate Two Models." Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, vol. 14, no. 2, 2008, pp. 50-65. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/mjcsl/3239521.0014.205
- VolunteerMatch. "Find Volunteer Opportunities." VolunteerMatch, 2023. https://www.volunteermatch.org/
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach." SAMHSA, 2014. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/SAMHSA-s-Concept-of-Trauma-and-Guidance-for-a-Trauma-Informed-Approach/SMA14-4884
- Twersky, F., Buchanan, P., and Threlfall, V. "Listening to Those Who Matter Most, the Beneficiaries." Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2013. https://ssir.org/articles/entry/listening_to_those_who_matter_most_the_beneficiaries