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The following is a true story, and I hope that you will fully read and take into consideration the following sincere plea.

On Saturday, July 2, 2011 between 5 and 6 PM, I entered the Walgreens on 1180 Arcade Street in Saint Paul, MN. I retrieved a shopping cart as usual, since I knew that I would be purchasing more items than what I could carry in my hands. Like most women, I placed my purse in the shopping cart and proceeded to gather the items on my shopping list. A few minutes later I noticed that my purse was open when I had not left it that way. In a panic, I frantically looked in my purse and realized that my money was gone! This was all the money I had to make my store purchase as well as money intended to pay my rent. Apparently, when I took my eyes off my purse for only a few seconds to reach for an item on one of the shelves in the store, someone had stolen the money out of my purse.

As a result of this theft, I have been unable to pay my rent and my landlord has threatened me with eviction. I am the single mom of a 2-year old and don’t know what to do. If anyone has any suggestions that may help me, please let me know as I have tried everything with no luck. As a last resort, I have set up a PayPal account under juneycaramels@gmail.com If anyone is able to make a small donation to help pay my rent, it would be most appreciated. Thank you in advance for your empathy and understanding.

Susies'Son brought up a very good point in his post today regarding helping the homeless. Many people are experiencing financial difficulties themselves, so how can they help? I would like to share some information on how you can still help, even though its not giving money.
Thanks Chris for bringing this to my attention!

t isn't necessary to donate money to help people less fortunate. Instead, you can donate time, connections, knowledge, and skills to homeless people. While these things cost time, labor, and thought they don't take away from your paycheck. In fact, they look great on your resume and they are a great way to fill in any gaps in your employment record.

Many homeless people have valuable job skills but have a hard time presenting themselves to employees. While part of this is physical presentation such as cleanliness, grooming and tidy clothing much of it is communication. If you are literate you can help homeless people fill out job applications and create resumes.

Even completely literate and educated homeless people can often use help with their resumes and job applications. Homelessness is very demoralizing and can cause people to undervalue themselves and this reflects in how homeless people fill out such forms and documents.

Your local homeless shelters and soup kitchens need volunteers, even for just a few hours at a time. Most of the things that need to be done are simple so any able-bodied person can do them with minimal instruction. Service providers need people not only to deal directly with homeless people but to prepare food, mop, sweep, and do dishes and other such tasks as well.

Food pantries also often need help doing such things as handing out the food but also in organizing donations of food, picking up food from donors, and helping to warehouse donated food in storage areas.

With a home base which includes a phone and an Internet connection, it's pretty easy to locate helpful resources in your area. Homeless people generally don't have easy or reliable access to either of these things or if they do they don't necessarily have a quiet place to access them so they can make the best of them.

You can research the charities and government services available for poor and homeless people in your area and compile them into a list to share. Be sure to include addresses and phone numbers plus contact names and email addresses whenever possible. You can then print this information out to give to homeless people seeking help.

Share your knowledge by teaching homeless people to read and write better. It's difficult to gain employment and take advantage of opportunities for betterment when a person can't read and write or can't read and write well.

Local charities that serve the homeless should be able to advise you on where you can donate your teaching services.

It's almost impossible to be a parent and work or even seek work without childcare. Check with local charities that serve homeless people to see if they need assistance providing childcare for their clients. If not, they can probably help you to find out whom to contact.

If no program for knowledge sharing activities exists in your community or if existing programs are too inflexible for your work schedule or other, personal limitations you can independently advertise your services. Simply print up a flier or card offering free resume services, application assistance, etc. and get permission to place them in soup kitchens, shelters, or other service providers for poor and homeless people. I would suggest mentioning to the staff that you'd be pleased if they help people who need your services to contact you.

If you independently provide help to homeless people, please keep your safety in mind. Meet only in public places where other people are around and do not share your personal information.

www.artistshelpingchildren.org/​shelters.html  

www.homelessshelterdirectory.org

www.ibiblio.org/rcip/women.html

4homeless.hypermart.net/soup_​kitchens.html

www.fns.usda.gov/.../Administration/​homeless_shelters.html

www.angelfire.com/ar/LRfuzz1/​homelessshelters.html

members.tripod.com/homeless_information-​ivil/id19.html

www.iifar.org/Women_Men_Family_Homeless_​Shelters.html

www.cfls1.org

www.shelters.org

www.shelterforthehomeless.org

www.dosomething.org/page/homeless-​shelters-state

www.critpath.org/thac/homeless.html

homelessed.net/resource/resource/​shelters.htm

www.baddteddy.com/homeless_shelters/​index.html

www.alivestl.org/Homeless.html

4homeless.hypermart.net/homeless_​shelters.html

homelessconnection.com

www.theshelters.ca

www.findlocalshelter.info

www.umd.umich.edu/109001

www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Care/Emergency_​Shelters/Emergency

www.pwcgov.org/​default.aspx?topic=040081003230000979

((((((((((((((DIRECTORIES))))))))))))))))

www.homelessshelterdirectory.org

4homeless.hypermart.net/soup_​kitchens.html

www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/​florida.html

homeless.us

www.homeless.us/Homeless-Shelter.html

www.ibiblio.org/rcip/shelters.html

www.homeless.org.au/directory/us-​california-shelters.htm

www.hud.gov/homeless/hmlsagen.cfm

www.shelterlistings.org

www.hsncfl.org/shelter-directory

www.hotfrog.com/Products/Homeless-​Shelter

www.nationalhomeless.org/directories/​index.html

www.mysudbury.ca/Communities/Index/​Directory.htm?TaxomomyId=81

www.nationalhomeless.org/directories/​directory_local.pdf

members.tripod.com/homeless_information-​ivil/id19.html

julieslist.homestead.com/​EmergencyHousing.html

yellowpages.aol.com/homeless-shelters/​mi

www.sparesomechange.com/search/engine/​read-aloud.asp?id=1246

www.google.com/Top/Society/Philanthropy/​Homeless

www.homesight.org/cat-shelter-​homeless.html

www.homelessrights.com/Homeless_shelter/​encyclopedia.htm

www.charity.com/charities/Homeless___​Crisis_Assistance/...

www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/directories/​services/11581/45481

www.800charitycars.org/​directory.php?Organizations/Homeless...

There are so many more even in London and Scotland; If by chance you need listing by state let me know.

I am deeply troubled, in doing this search, I thought OK there will be three or four per big city and a directory for each state. Boy, was I wrong there are hundreds maybe thousands, just here in the states.

That is really sad, in a country like ours, we have a need for that many shelters.Yet, our government takes the cost of living away from the elderly and the disabled. BUT, they did not fail to give themselves a raise, nice of them. I'm not talking one party over the other, it is both

I was told by an insider that there is an agreement not to use that as a polictical football. Therefore, they all know and they accept the raise with winks and nods.We seriously need to look at who is running for office at the up coming elections in the future.

Hope this helps. Good Luck and God Bless

CLICK HERE

For complete listing and website:

Listing of available resources to anyone helping the homeless including service providers, the faith community, government agencies, advocates and homeless people in Broward County, Florida.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
SERVICE PROVIDERS     Phone Number     E-mail     Website     Address     Type of Service     
Broward County Transit     (954)357-6788     twilbar@broward.org     www.broward.org/bct     3201 W Copans Road
Pompano Beach, Florida     Para transit, shared transportation for the disabled and frail elderly
Broward Outreach Center -North     (954)979-6365     mdiamond@caringplace.org           1700 Blount Road
Pompano Beach, Fl 33069     Emergency shelter with supportive services for homeless families and individuals
Broward Outreach Center -South     (954)926-7417                 2056 Scott Street
Hollywood, FL. 33020     Emergency shelter with supportive services for homeless families and individuals.
Calvary Chapel Church-4KIdS     (954)979-7911     aaron@4kidsofsfl.org     www.4kidsofsfl.org     827 S. State Road 7-bldg 1
Suite B
North Lauderdale, Fl 33068     Emergency Shelter for kids ages 4-12

CLICK HERE

For website for service sites for heat relief help. 

Summertime Help for Vulnerable People in Maricopa County
Help for seniors, people who are homeless, and others vulnerable to Arizona's heat
With links to help people in other areas across Arizona

The extreme summer heat we experience in the Phoenix metro area can be particularly difficult for seniors and people who are homeless or otherwise vulnerable to endure. Many have died in the past because there was no coordinated effort to help them cope with our desert summer extremes.

The Heat Relief Network is working to change that. Throughout the summer, and especially during heat emergencies, the following agencies stand ready to help these individuals in Maricopa County in various ways.

Donation/Collection Sites

Drop off water and other appropriate donations including light colored tee-shirts, sun block, socks and underwear, hats, and pre-packaged snack items. For large donations contact Tim Cole, City of Phoenix Heat Relief Coordinator
Phone: 602-534-5463   Email: tim.cole@phoenix.gov

Hydration Stations

Places where people can get water and other donations to help them cope with the extreme heat.

Refuge Locations

Places that provide safe, cool place indoors during the day for homeless people. Water should be provided.

Not in Maricopa County? Find out about helping people in Tucson and across Arizona.

Service sites are listed in Zip Code order by city.

http://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/georgia.html

Click the link to find the nearest homeless shelter for men, women with children and families. Some listings have food banks and other resources for the homeless. You will have to see the different ones to see what is available for you. 

Many are emergency shelters and are good contacts for situations such as hurricanes in Georgia. With the recession in Georgia, many of these shelters now have waiting lists. Please call before going to them. Many waiting lists are very long.

All website advertising profits go to shelters listed in the directory. See About Us for more information.

http://www.stpaulsbirdsboro.org/missions/index.aspx

Click the link to find out information about their other services too...

Birdsboro Food Bank at New First Baptist Church, Birdsboro

   
      Food is collected on a weekly basis to serve the needs of those in the Birdsboro area.
   
      In the fall we collect school supplies and distribute them through through the food bank.
   
      Financial donations are also collected to allow the food bank to purchase needed items at subsidized and bulk rates.
         
            $1 can be multipled up to 20 times through these means.
         
            Donations can be mailed either to St. Paul's or directly to the food bank.

            Attn:  Food Bank
            New First Baptist Church of Birdsboro
            216 North Mill Street
            Birdsboro, PA 19508

   
      For a schedule of when the food bank is open, check out the calendar.
   
      For more information on Food bank Ministry, contact The Greater Berks Food Bank.

http://www.atlantaunionmission.org/

Click the link to find out about the different programs they offer, a thrift store they run where people purchase items to help others in need, ways to give and location of the mission. 

There is a place in Atlanta where the hurting and lost find healing and hope. There is a place inAtlanta where addictions are broken and hunger satisfied. There is a place that has been a rockin this community since 1938. This place is My Mission – Atlanta Union Mission........

They continue on with more information but I found this statement of at their site to be very profound..

The word “homelessness” conjures up different images for different people. Our vision is not of how people are before they arrive at Atlanta Union Mission, rather who they will become when they leave the Mission.

http://www.sienafrancis.org/

Siena/ Francis House is Nebraska's largest homeless shelter for women, men and children..

Click the link to learn more about this largest homeless shelter for Nebraska.

Here is what the homeless say about the Siena/Francis and see the link to learn more..

In many instances, the Siena/Francis House makes the difference between life and death. They give us food, shelter and even medical attention to those of us who cannot afford to get it anywhere else. We can get counseling and support for alcohol and drug abuse. We work when we visit the facility, which gives us valuable skills that we can use later in life. Everyone here has access to educational opportunities and worship services. They even help us with legal issues. They don't just take care of us, they motivate and prepare us to take care of ourselves. We are treated like guests, with respect and dignity. They give us the ability to move forward with our lives. Siena/Francis House