Haircuts for the Homeless Provide More Than a New Look

by Becky Blanton · 2010-07-23 14:28:00 UTC
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A lot of people think of donating food, socks and clothing for the homeless, but how do you give someone self-esteem? The Village of Hope in Santa Ana, California has a good idea: haircuts, among other things. The Village of Hope is a 192-bed transitional housing program for homeless men, women and children. It opened in March 2008 with the arrival of 30 men. Now it offers an amazing array of services more dedicated to people in transition than the usual "feed 'em and house 'em" attitude of the shelters I've seen.

With the addition of a hair salon on site (the owner wants to see it open three days a week) residents can regain control of one of the most critical pieces of their self-esteem — how they look. It got me thinking.

Then, a reader wrote me to ask me how she could help the homeless. She is a hairstylist, her husband is a photographer. I suggested she start with one family. Find a family, cut their hair, take before and after photos and I'll create an ebook about the process and about self-esteem. I'll try to post about it here, and post the book here so others can learn from their process. How much of a difference can we make when we help each other — one family, one person at a time?

There are "hair cutting" efforts at many other salons and shelters, of course. It's something that's been proven to be positive, something that offers tangible help right away. I'm writing to ask any of you who have participated, or received a free hair cut, or volunteered to give haircuts to post your suggestions here so I can incorporate them into the free ebook.

Make a difference. Help me help others who want to do this but aren't sure of the process. That includes me. This is as much a book about self-esteem as it is about haircuts. It's how we all regain that part of ourselves that gives us dignity and gets us in touch with our self-worth.

Photo credit: inarizoo

Becky Blanton has 22 years of experience as a journalist and photojournalist. She spoke at TEDGlobal 2009 in Oxford, England about being one of the "working homeless."
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