When we lived in a big city, we would hit the occasional Costco sale, then go out and hand out blankets, tents, tarps, water, socks, and warm clothing. Also, toys and school supplies.

In a smaller city, donations to the local food and housing groups, school fundraisers to help cover costs for books and supplies for those who can’t afford it, and refilling the neighborhood open-access fridge.

Basic responsibility to pay it forward.

Therapy. Many of the homeless have mental illness and/or substance dependency.

I have known a few homeless people, and it’s mostly socks, good footwear that can take a daily beating for years on end. And someone to give them a chance to work and improve their situation.

Never donate anything made of cotton in the winter. It kills people.

If i was homeless i’d probably want driving to some smaller towns or hooking up with jobs, but the latter is a lot to ask for and nobody seems to do the small town strategy i have in my head, so i guess I truly don’t know what it’s like.

Then again, the decent homeless shelters and charities are in big cities. My city has LOADS but also has/recently had an industry of drug dealers exploiting these charities.

If you want to genuinely help homeless people, go into it being aware that there are dangerous and horrible people who it is not safe to help, who just love exploiting people.

If you want to help the homeless, do it through a charity, i.e making face-2-face contact with ones going through the right channels to get help - perhaps you will encounter people who need directing to these charities or don’t know they exist.

Handjobs.

Unconditional shelter.