202-360-9772 | info@thrivedc.org
Winter can seem like the most dangerous time of the year for the homeless. But actually, homeless individuals face a lot of unique challenges all through the year, from snow to heat.
People living on the streets need your help all year round. Here are the Top 5 ways summer is dangerous for the homeless, and what you can do to help.
For the homeless, turning on the AC during a hot day isn’t an option. If they can’t find a restaurant or store where they can get in out of the sun, they stand at increased risk for hyperthermia or heat stroke. On days when it’s 95 degrees outside or more, that’s deadly.
Restaurants and stores often have a “Customers Only” policy that put the homeless at a severe disadvantage when it comes to cooling off. When there’s a Hyperthermia alert on, libraries and public fountains serve as critical oases for the homeless.
Sadly, mental illness is something a large part of the homeless population lives with and medication can mess with the way the human body reacts to heat. Antidepressants can prevent the body from sweating or prevent the blood flow to the skin from increasing, which puts them at greater risk of overheating.
The heat will also exacerbate any breathing problems. This disproportionately affects the homeless, who often suffer from respiratory infections.
It’s a common misconception that cold exposure is the deadliest weather the homeless face; dehydration during the summer is actually a bigger cause of death.
Staying hydrated during the heat is super important as dehydration can worsen pre-existing health conditions. Having ready access to fresh water is a luxury many people don’t have when they are barred from public restaurants and stores, and lakes and rivers don’t count.
The homeless are often on their feet all day long, and the hot weather can lead to severe athlete’s foot, pitted keratolysis, ingrown toe nails, and more.
These kind of problems are easy to avoid with proper footwear and consistently clean, dry socks, but many homeless individuals struggle to keep just one or two pairs with them, let alone clean.
Bugs like mosquitoes and ticks multiply during the summer, and while they can be annoying for everyone, they can be especially dangerous for the homeless trying to find a safe place to sleep in a park or wooded area.
Without adequate protection like bug spray, these insects can keep someone up all night, cause infection, or spread diseases. Since many homeless people lack access to good healthcare, early signs of something wrong can either be not recognized or ignored.
While summer can be full of hidden dangers, the good news is that there are lots of ways to help the homeless beat the heat:
Winter is the hardest time for our homeless community. When the temperature dips below freezing it creates a severe risk for hypothermia, and the consequences can be fatal. Thankfully, DC has a long-standing law that requires the city to provide shelter for the homeless when the temperature is below 32 degrees.
While the city does its part, there are many things we can do to help the homeless survive this winter. Here are the 5 most effective ways you can help the homeless in our community.
It doesn’t do much good to provide shelter if the people who need it most don’t know where to go.
Find out where you can point people to stay when it’s too cold outside. Many already know, but there are also many homeless individuals who struggle with mental illness and need help to get there.
If you see someone who needs shelter, you can call (202) 399-7093 or 211, email uposh@upo.org, or tweet at @DCHypothermia to have someone come pick them up.
Life is hard on the streets. Many who sleep outside are at constant risk of having things stolen, without many opportunities to wash clothing (Thrive DC is one of only six places that provides free showers and free laundry).
When you donate warm coats, hats, scarves, and gloves you ensure that our homeless community has what they need to survive.
If you have surplus gear you would like to donate, please contact Greg at (202) 503-1528 or inkind@ThriveDC.org.
Shelters and homeless outreach programs are busiest during the winter months. More people are coming in for meals, referral services, clothing, and shelter. You can support homeless case managers on the front lines by making a special donation during the winter months, or signing up to provide a recurring donation throughout the year that they can count on.
With an increase in clients, social service staff can become overwhelmed in the winter. Even signing up for one volunteer shift a month at a shelter or kitchen can make it easier for the staff to see more clients. If you would like to volunteer at Thrive DC individually or with a group, please contact Greg at (202) 503-1528 or volunteer@thrivedc.org.
No one has to be homeless. Montgomery County has ended chronic homelessness among veterans by using a strategy called “Housing First.” It’s been proven as an effective and cheap way to help people who have fallen on hard times get their lives back together. While it’s becoming more popular, we need more voices advocating for cities to commit to this strategy.
Housing First is just one issue for homeless advocates. There are many systemic causes that contribute to people becoming homeless such as a low minimum wage, lack of affordable housing, and an insufficient safety net. I encourage you to talk to the people you meet on the streets and in shelters to see what they consider a priority!
A few weeks ago, Mayor Bowser and the City Council successfully passed a budget that gives a new focus to homelessness. This is great news!
http://dccouncil.us/budget/2015
But with all the positive attention, it’s important to temper optimism with the weight of challenges ahead. Executive Director Alicia Horton responds below to the 2015 DC Budget with important context.
Kudos to the new administration for putting their money where their problems lie! The new DC budget has made tackling the issue of homelessness a priority. The new Administration and the City Council have made allocations that should have measurable effects on the acquisition of housing for some of our most vulnerable community members.
This is a great start and we at Thrive DC are anxious to help Mayor Bowser and other city officials accomplish our mutual goals of stabilizing individuals and families through the provision of effective services and housing.
One thing that the budget did not address was the continued need for wraparound services which emphasize a system of care framework. For services and supports to be effective they should be individualized, family driven, culturally competent, and community based.
Simply because someone has a home does not mean they are safe from homelessness. Services are needed for those that are able to access housing as well as for those that are not.
Despite the ambitious and laudable goals, the unfortunate reality is that not everyone in need will be provided the assistance they require. Vulnerable individuals and families with homes will still need support to stay housed and those without housing will still need services to help them survive and take the steps necessary to secure permanent housing.
Another concern not wholly addressed by the current plan is the development of effective strategies that address the root causes of extreme poverty and homelessness.
We need long term solutions that will slow down, if not eliminate the stream of families and individuals that will become homeless in the next few years.
The problems are stagnant wages, high unemployment, poor mental health services, domestic violence and a lack of affordable housing.
The solutions are living wages, dedicated mixed income housing, functional and enforceable domestic violence laws, as well as effective, accessible, comprehensive, and affordable mental health and substance abuse services.
These systemic solutions will require a critical focus on successful anti- poverty initiatives, profound system overhauls and honest housing equity efforts, particularly in high profile urban areas. Housing without all of the above equals failure.
In 2015, 7,300 homeless individuals were counted in the Nation’s Capitol. The 2015 DC Budget will not house them all, nor does the plan address those who will fall victim to situations of unemployment, economic insecurity, food insecurity, housing costs, illness, family tragedy, substance abuse, or domestic violence yet to come.
We are off to a great start. The Administration has a new will to solve homelessness that has not been seen here in a long time, if ever. But there is still a mountain of issues to tackle before we can claim a full victory over homelessness.
Let’s keep the pedal to the floor and our eye on the Administration so that we don’t lose our momentum. The low-income and homeless clients that we serve cannot afford for us to backtrack on promises to help them reclaim their stability, dignity and futures.
Alicia Horton
Executive Director of Thrive DC
10. Boston, MA
9. Denver, CO
8. Detroit, MI
7. New York, NY
6. Philadelphia, PA
5. Portland, OR
4. San Francisco, CA
3. Seattle, WA
2. Tuscon, AZ
1. Washington, DC
*Cities listed alphabetically
While we know that homelessness is not unique to our nation’s capitol, Washington, DC is frequently listed as a US city with the highest rates of homelessness.
To help end homelessness in Washington, DC, and across the country, Thrive DC provides nutritious meals and social services to those in need.
If you would like to help Thrive DC lead the fight against homelessness, consider VOLUNTEERING with us or supporting our mission with a DONATION.
To share your thoughts on homelessness, leave a comment below!
Resources gathered from the National Alliance to End Homelessness and The University of Maryland.
Thrive DC works daily to build a community of acceptance and welcome within our walls. We encourage volunteers to learn from the men and women who come here for support and encourage our clients to share their stories with our volunteers. These relationships help to break down some of the stereotypes of homelessness and the causes behind it. If you want to raise your voice to change any of the reasons below you can call or write to your local and state government representatives and share your feelings.
10. Extended Illness
9. Prisoner Re-entry
8. Poverty
7. Unemployment
6. Family Issues / Domestic Violence
5. Drug Dependence
4. Alcohol Addiction
3. Physical or Mental Disability
2. Low Paying Jobs / Loss of Job
1. Lack of Affordable Housing
*This list was adapted from PBS- Facts and Figures: The Homeless (http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/526/homeless-facts.html) and The National Coalition for the Homeless (http://www.nationalhomeless.org)
