In light of the holiday season coming up, we should remind ourselves to be giving to those who are less fortunate.  In the winter, the harsh weather and lack of places to sleep can make it even harder than usual to be unhoused. Shelters get more crowded, leaving many unhoused people isolated and more prone to hypothermia and frostbite. According to Breaktime, Hypothermia can happen at 32–50ºF, but many emergency winter shelters don’t open until the weather is as low as 13ºF outside, and are overcrowded when they do. According to a HOPE survey of 2022, the amount of unhoused people is on the rise in New York City.

There are myriad reasons for homelessness  in New York City. The leading causes are domestic violence, mental illness, and lack of affordable housing. According to the American Bar Association, 38% of all domestic violence victims become unhoused at some point in their life. Survivors of abuse often have trouble finding housing and keeping it. Additionally, more than 90% of unhoused women have experienced physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Race, immigration status, and proficiency in English also contribute to the difficulties of finding a good place to live. People with mental illnesses can struggle to keep their everyday job. Without a job, they can’t pay their rent—New York City housing is especially expensive compared to other cities (75% higher than the national average according to RentCafe)—so they resort to the streets.

There are many ways you can help unhoused people during the holiday season and the rest of the year. You can donate clothing such as coats, jackets, hats, mittens and scarves to drives and charity centers. The Salvation Army Thrift Store, The Bowery Mission in Tribeca, The Coalition for The Homeless, and HSMSE’s food and clothing drives are all great options. You can also make care packages with essential toiletries like toothpaste and menstrual products. The average woman spends $20 on period products per cycle, money that a person living on the street does not have; many unhoused people use socks instead. This is a struggle that no one should have to endure, and you can make a difference by donating period kits to organizations like The Rise of Broken Women and The Bowery Mission in Tribeca. Volunteering at soup kitchens and shelters always helps, and is an affordable option for those who don’t have much disposable income.

For a larger, long lasting impact, political advocacy is an impactful route. Getting involved in local politics by attending neighborhood or public meetings can go a long way. Speaking up in favor of low income housing can help stop the issue before it starts, and ameliorate the community at large. According to Housing Matters and National Institutes of Health, crime rates will be reduced and healthcare costs will be lowered when more people have stable housing. Advocating for group homes and shelters and raising funds for a program like a clothing drive is helpful. You can organize a holiday bake sale or a walk-a-thon, for example, and donate the proceeds to your local shelter.

Doing your part to tackle homelessness  isn’t as hard as you might think. The time and effort you spent on lending a helping hand will make someone’s holiday season brighter. It’s an opportunity to restore hope and a sense of belonging for people who need it the most.