What Business Owners Can Do About Homelessness, and Why They Should

Business owners in areas of high homelessness are not helpless. Learn how you can help people get back on their feet.

By Tess Townsend, Inc. Staff Reporter

For the full story, visit Inc.com.

As any business owner in an area of high homelessness can attest, when people in a neighborhood are struggling to attain necessary resources like food, shelter and medical or psychological care, it puts a strain on more than those afflicted individuals.

Businesses may struggle to balance the expectations of customers or clients with a desire to behave sensitively toward someone who, for example, may lack access to a private restroom and seek to use your washroom for daily hygiene needs. You may feel overwhelmed when confronted at your establishment with someone living on the streets and coping with an untreated mental illness.

The business community in Hollywood saw homelessness rising beginning several years ago. A few enterprising individuals connected with area nonprofits to determine what needs there were in the neighborhood and how to best fulfill them. The collaboration triggered a domino effect. A homeless registry launched in 2010 led to the housing of roughly 200 members of the area homeless population by 2013.

Despite successes, Hollywood business leaders say a continued influx of homelessness is outpacing their ability to connect individuals with the resources they need. But they also say the situation would be worse without involvement of small business owners. And the lessons they learned can be applied in other municipalities.

In this Inc. story, learn what worked in Hollywood and what challenges remain.

Are you a business owner in an area with high levels of homelessness? What have you done, or what might you be able to do, to help homeless people in your area access housing and other resources? Join the conversation. #SFHomelessProject