Homelessness in The Philippines and Five Pointers You Need to Know When Helping
Estimated at over 3.1 million, the Philippines has the highest number of homeless people in the world where roughly 1.2 million are children and more than 70,000 rambles in the nation’s capital, Metro Manila.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has barely scratched the surface in combating the issue. To date, there are 4,071 beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for the Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) compared to the number at large.
Homelessness can be a result of various reasons, predominantly due to poverty caused by unemployment. It could also be a result of domestic violence, disability, or both. There are many other reasons for people to lose their homes and it wouldn’t hurt for us to help.
If you’re reading this, it’s very likely that you have a roof over your head and your compassion lead you to still be chewing on this article. The good news is, most of us would like to help. Most of us would like to know how. Some of us may have already extended help before. However, even with pure intentions, we may have given items to the homeless that aren’t exactly what they need.
If we really want to help, we can start by knowing what are considered by them as true necessities. Here are some tips and ideas that may come in handy when putting together a help package for our street-dwelling friends:
Tips on How to Help the Homeless
1. Food & Drinks. Avoid giving food items that need cooking as they do not have quick access to stoves or microwave oven. When preparing help packages, bear in mind that they don’t have regular access to healthcare too. It’s not a good idea to give sugary foods or drinks that hasten teeth deterioration. You may want to consider these: Bottles of clean drinking water instead of soda, crackers, mixed nuts and/or fruits instead of candies. If giving canned goods, opt for easy-open cans or simply provide can openers. Fresh, hot meals are, of course, always a delightful treat. Why not treat a kid or two to your favorite restaurant? You can even arrange a feeding program with your friends or the barangay.
2. First Aid Kits. These are good to add in any care package. Include ethyl alcohol, povidone-iodine (Betadine), antibiotic ointment (Terramycin), bandages and cotton balls. These would help disinfect and treat minor cuts or wounds. Basic medicines to treat colds, fever, flu and diarrhea are great too.
3. Hygiene. Living on the street won’t give you plenty of access to showers and faucets. Hence, shampoo, soaps, bath gels, cologne and the likes can be set aside. Simply opt for wet wipes which provide a more convenient, travel-friendly way to clean up. Mouthwash and dental floss are also good to include. For females, sanitary pads and pantyliners are very much welcome.
4. Clothing, Blankets and Sleeping Mats. When it comes to clothing, think of practical wear. There are times when they will be under the scorching sun, and times when it gets cold especially at night. Being outdoors almost all the time makes one exposed to harsh weather conditions hence they need hats and arm sleeves for sun protection. Meanwhile sleeping mats, blankets, jackets, and socks are very useful when it gets cold. While hand-me-down tops and bottoms (in good condition) are acceptable, please do not give used underwear. Nobody deserves hand-me-downs for underwear. There are so many inexpensive undies in Divisoria packed by the dozens that wouldn’t break the bank.
5. How to Give. You can donate to charitable groups that collect help packages for the homeless, but if you wish to give your package directly to someone that you spotted, it is safer to go with a group of fellows that you know.
Be mindful. Most of our homeless friends already feel low, ignored and looked down upon. You’ll worsen this if you’ll just toss the package in front of them and go. On the other hand, you can uplift someone’s morale by treating them the same manner you want to be treated. Give with a warm smile and politeness. Care to hear their story if they want to engage in a conversation. Your time spent with them may be the most valuable gift you can give.
They are people who may have gone through unimaginable things that caused them their current situation. A social experiment revealed that homeless people in their 20s, 30s and 40s don’t get much help from passers-by because people judge them straight away. Bear in mind that many are not jobless by choice — especially in an economy where the workforce is higher than job opportunities.
Come to think of it, we all are sojourners trying to get by. But even though most of us cannot provide shelter or give more than what we have, with a simple act of kindness, we can help someone get by… and that’s what matters.