The Homeless Need Steak Knives Too

Remember when you set up you first home and had to buy all the bits and bobs that go with that? Over time it cost me thousands of dollars. Furniture, white goods, kitchen stuff especially. If I had to do it again today I don't know that I could afford it.

Initially, I started renting where a lot of the stuff was provided so I was able to acquire all the pieces over time. Buying my own bed was a major thing at the time. Then came the kitchen appliances. Later: a washing machine and then my own fridge.

Exiting homelessness is hard enough no matter what your story. But entering homelessness is just like a thief came and took all the stuff you had accumulated over your lifetime and you ended up with what you could carry, if you were lucky. Then, if you're able to move off the streets and get a decent income, you have to start accumulating all over again.

Slowly you build up all the items used for daily living. Like a frying pan, like a chopping board, like a potato peeler, like linens. It all adds up when moving off the streets and establishing a house. I bet you could go into your kitchen right now and find 50 things that cost you over $5 or even $20.

There are some organizations that help with household goods (if you know of those in your area please post them in the comments). If you are moving off the streets, shop around the charities in your local area and find out what they can help with. You would sometimes be surprised at the useful stuff on offer. Some places even offer home delivery for someone getting reestablished.

On the flip side, if you are upgrading household stuff, check with local charities to see if they can take a donation of sheets, appliances or anything else you no longer need. Through random accumulation I think I have five kettles, five potato peelers and about three can openers, so the spare ones are off to a local charity. What have you got that you don't need?

A lot of people donate old clothes to charities, but some organizations work beyond that need and focus on helping people establish themselves in a new home. Let's help them out and get the job done settling homeless people into independent living with the secondhand odds and ends we don't need and they would value.

Only the other day a lady called me and said she and her network of friends were talking about donating things that could be useful in setting up a home. But like many donors they didn't want their goods to be sold for a buck in a charity thrift shop to a college student but instead wanted it to go to a shelter involved in re-settling homeless people.

Let's use one act of generosity to inspire many more and get our network of friends together to support a local charity helping those who are working to reestablish a home after homelessness.

Current and formerly homeless people are invited to join the World Homeless Forum to connect with thousands of others around the world with shared experiences. Sorry, new members don't get a free set of steak knives, but they may be able to get tips on where to get some.

Photo credit: James H.