To Get ID, You Need ID?
magine if you became homeless tomorrow — where would you keep all of your important documents? Wallet, passport, birth certificate, social security card all on your person, at all times. This means there’s a much higher risk of losing...
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Shelter Drop In Sites In New York
omeless individuals and families have a right to shelter in the City of New York. If you are currently homeless, you can seek assistance at the intake shelters listed below which are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.If you have...
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Polar Vortex Claims 21 Deaths
t least 21 people have died in one of the worst cold snaps to hit the US Midwest in decades.Ninety million people - a third of the US - have seen temperatures of 0°F or below. Some 250 million Americans overall have experienced the...
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Give Money To Homeless People?
he question of “should I give money?” is really is a choice that you need to make for yourself. However, if you choose to give someone money, what that money gets spent on is no longer in your control.Walking around the city, it...
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What Do WE Look Like
hat does a homeless person look like to you? Is it the person sitting in a cardboard box under a bridge, possibly with a dog, usually with a sleeping bag and little else to protect them from the elements? Someone with their worldly...
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What NOT To Say
There are many ways to approach and talk to someone living on the streets. But there are just as many ways that you could offend or say something that is negative. homeless person: "spare change?" "Sorry- all I've got are 20s" If they ask if you if you...
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Open A Dialogue
The definition of homelessness is the circumstance when people are without a permanent dwelling, such as a house & or apartment. People who are homeless are most often unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, secure and adequate housing due to a...
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Pay it Forward
This is Shah Jahan, a Muslim immigrant who I met Christmas Eve when I was giving out backpacks to the homeless. I had one backpack left when I met him. And, he was SO excited to get the backpack because he had no gloves. His fingers were literally turning...
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Helpful Avenues For Homelessness
Google's definition of helpful is:help·ful/ˈhelpfəl/adjective: helpfulgiving or ready to give help."people are friendly and helpful"Here are helpful resources for New Yorkers:Help For Homeless FamiliesHomeless: Family Services Information from the City for homeless...
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Misconceptions of Homelessness
At Backpacks for the Street, we feel strongly that homelessness does not define an individual. Before anything else, that person is a human being. A human with dreams. Skills. Compassion.While this is our stance, it’s undeniable that stereotypes about...
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