Imagine living a paycheque away from becoming homeless. You're working hard to pay your rent and grocery bills — which are rising far too fast. Without warning, your landlord gives you notice to move by the end of the month.
Everywhere you look, there are no rental units available within your budget. The end of the month creeps up and suddenly you find yourself standing outside your building with your belongings — with no place to call home.
This is one of many ways someone could end up homeless, and it could happen to anyone. Homelessness can’t be solved by one person, but one person can still make a big impact. Thanks to compassionate individuals like you and organizations like Union Gospel Mission, people in crisis in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and Greater Victoria can get the support they need.
You’re probably thinking: I’m just one person! How can I help people overcome being homeless? Well, let’s dive into seven ways you can make a difference for a neighbour:
1. Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes

Every gesture of kindness helps. No matter how big or small, a donation to non-profit organizations that help folks experiencing homelessness is one of the best ways that you can make an impact! These organizations can connect people to basic necessities like food and shelter, and other important resources like employment supports and cultural programs.
One great organization to support is the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society: they’ve been serving the Indigenous community for over 50 years through health, social service, and cultural programs!
In the Capital Regional District, not-for-profits like Our Place and Street Hope Victoria are building relationships and meeting needs, one day at a time. “Street Hope is quite a small organization, and they’re doing a really great job,” says UGM Board Member Anna, who volunteers her time with Street Hope helping people feel cared for. “We’re currently making tote bags, filling them with sanitary items and treats and chocolate for homeless folks.”
2. Always in style

Helping others is always in style! When you donate your pre-loved clothing to local thrift stores and non-profit organizations, you aren't just helping the environment — you’re helping people, too. Some organizations take donated items and provide them directly to folks who need them the most. For others, they may distribute them to their stores to provide everyone with the dignity of an affordable shopping experience.
It’s not unusual for thrift stores to go above and beyond. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s, which operates thrift stores in multiple locations across Greater Victoria, has a Social Concern office where community members can receive vouchers for household items, furniture, and clothing, as well as other emergency supports.
Similarly, at UGM’s Thrift Store and Found Thrift Boutique, we not only employ people who’ve recently completed our recovery programs, but we also distribute donations, free of charge, to our community members before putting anything on the sales floor. We then provide a low-cost shopping experience in the Downtown Eastside, and 100% of the proceeds go back into UGM’s life-changing programs and services.
3. Hungry to help

People who are experiencing homelessness or poverty often can’t cover their grocery bills, and may choose to seek food support through local food exchanges. Food exchanges are a dignifying way for low-income individuals to shop for low-cost, healthy food options.
Quest Outreach Society is a non-profit organization that works to redirect unsold healthy food that would end up in landfill. Almost all of Quest’s food is donated by their local food partners from across British Columbia, and they provide affordable groceries at a reduced cost across the Lower Mainland — Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, East Vancouver, and the Downtown Eastside.
For those looking for a meal in Victoria, The Mustard Seed Street Church is the largest food bank on Vancouver Island, and their Food Security Distruction Centre supports the area’s hidden homeless. “We also have Good Food Box in Fernwood,” shares Anna. “It’s a produce subscription program, and there’s a low-income aspect to it, in that people can get good, nourishing produce at a reasonable price. They also give away a lot of bread.”
If you are a food producer, distributor, commercial market, restaurant, or a local grower, consider donating excess inventory to one of these initiatives! If you’re an individual, you can make a monetary donation to support ongoing food interventions across the Lower Mainland and the Capital Regional district.
People going hungry is a structural issue, but it can be helpful to prepare for when it’s personal. “For example, just keeping granola bars in your car,” suggests Anna. “There’s often somebody on the Boulevard when I’m turning left, you know, going up and down the Boulevard. And so I try to keep some granola bars, or if I go to Costco, I’ll get an extra hot dog. It costs $1.50 for a hot dog and a drink, and those come wrapped, so it’s easy to gift.”
4. Time is precious

Sharing your time by volunteering is arguably one of the most direct ways you can help make a difference in someone’s life. By consistently volunteering, you can help build meaningful relationships and encourage our neighbors as they overcome their unique challenges. When you truly get to know someone, this can often help strip away some of the stereotypes that you may have developed before.
Feeling inspired? There are so many organizations that provide volunteer opportunities, like The Dugout in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. They have a community living room where people can spend time inside, sit down for a hot meal, coffee and snacks, and other baked goods donated by local businesses.
This handy list, compiled by The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, would be helpful for anyone in the Capital Regional District looking to support their homeless neighbours through volunteering. If you live elsewhere, consider volunteering with a similar organization in your community!
There are also smaller ways to be thinking of and caring for your homeless neighbours. One example Anna gives revolves around a familiar practice for people struggling with homelessness: bottle collecting. “Every recycling day, there are people that come and pick through for cans and returnables,” she says. “A simple thing that people can do is leave a separate box aside with all the items that can be returned for money, so that it provides bottle collectors more dignity. Instead of picking through a heap of recycling, they can select what they want. It doesn't take that much extra effort to sort on our own.”
This kind of forethought has connected Anna’s family with people in her community. “We often see the same people come by, and we always say hi, make sure that they feel comfortable. Last week, an older couple had come to collect cans, and they accidentally locked their keys in their car. Finally, they came up to my husband for some help. He tried to get their keys, but in the end, we gave them $2.50 so that they could take the bus home to get their spare keys. I don’t know their names, but I’m so glad they felt safe enough to ask.”
For anyone trying out volunteering or helping for the first time — whether in one of the many volunteer roles at UGM or with similar organizations — Anna recommends going back to the basics. “It’s just about being a human being. That's the biggest advice that I would give somebody, because often we shy away and say ‘I don't want to prejudge, maybe they don't need help.’ It’s okay to ask! I think there's lots of little things that we can be doing, and it's a day-to-day kind of practice.”
5. Ready, set, fundraise!

Often when we think of fundraising, we think of big events like walk-a-thons or galas that end up raising thousands, if not millions, of dollars. But raising funds to support your favorite charity doesn’t have to be a big complicated event.
Whether you are hosting a bake sale, challenging yourself to bike every day for a month, or pledging your birthday — you can raise funds by doing what you love. Start your own online fundraising campaign today for UGM on my.UGM.ca, and rally loved ones together to help end homelessness.
6. Your voice matters

The most effective way to make sure that your concerns about neighbors experiencing homelessness are heard is by reaching out to your local MLA and MP, to encourage your elected officials to get involved and make it a priority. Write a letter to your local reps emphasizing the need to alleviate homelessness and poverty in your community, and vote with these issues in mind when there is an election!
When it comes to helping people overcome being homeless, civic politics matter too. “It’s important to make sure that we’re voting in city councilors that are compassionate to the homeless and are trying to actually find solutions,” notes Anna. “Once every four years, we have another chance to help alleviate homelessness and poverty.”
7. Get to know your neighbour

You never know what someone else is going through. And people overcoming poverty or homelessness often have experienced trauma and other difficult circumstances in their lives. So when you encounter someone, it’s important to approach them with a smile, and from a place of empathy and respect.
“Giving dignity and looking people in the eye and saying hello, I think, is really important,” says Anna. “My children and I often bike along Pandora because there’s a bike lane there, and people experiencing homelessness are as courteous and considerate as anybody else — they look out for kids.”
Take a few minutes to stop and listen to their story. Introduce yourself—ask their name, how they're doing, or if they need anything. Often, the best thing you can do in the moment is to point them to organizations like UGM, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre or Covenant House that can better meet their immediate needs and support long-term needs.
Take a few minutes to stop and listen to the people you meet. Introduce yourself — ask their name, how they're doing, or if they need anything. Often, the best thing you can do in the moment is to point them to organizations like UGM, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, or Covenant House that can better meet their immediate needs and support long-term needs in Vancouver. In Victoria, Our Place, Mustard Seed, and more are connecting people with care, while Arrow Home is now supporting mothers with infants through recovery.
Take action now
Congratulations, you made it to the end of our list! Now, we challenge you to take action with one of these seven ways to help people who are navigating homelessness.
If you want to continue learning about how you can help neighbors overcome homelessness, poverty, and addiction — or if you’re looking for inspiring stories from community members like Terry — subscribe to UGM's email newsletter.