The Just Give Guide offers a comprehensive list of 35 activities people can engage in to make a difference in the lives of homeless people. There are no shortcuts that will end homelessness, but there are many ways for individuals to work towards that goal.

The guide suggests purchasing street newspapers, which are available in most major cities. These newspapers have an international reach and allow homeless vendors to earn a larger than usual profit on each newspaper sold. Surprisingly, Philadelphia has never had a street newspaper. According to Laura Thomson Osuri, president of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA), Philadelphia would lend itself to such a project. But the papers are generally part of a grassroots movement, and despite expressed interest in the past, no one has taken on the mission of founding a street newspaper in Philadelphia. Helping to create a street newspaper in Philadelphia would be a great way to assist homeless people, and it would add a new media outlet for information about homelessness issues for the entire city.

Another recommendation from Just Give is to allow homeless people to collect your business's recyclable goods, so that they can recycle the items for cash. According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Business Journal, Philadelphia’s initiatives with a local company RecycleBank allows residents to profit directly from recycling, too. Families, including low-income and housing-insecure families can benefit financially from this program.

Sharing information about local shelters is another important step. Invite friends and coworkers to check out the information on OneNeighborhood.org. Social networks are also a great portal for informing the people around you of events and opportunities to become involved or the needs of local shelters. On MySpace and Facebook you can post events or quick facts about organizations supporting the fight against homelessness—information you can find throughout our site.

Voting is another way to make a difference in policies that affect homelessness. By supporting candidates that view homelessness as a priority you can have an impact on legislation that addresses homelessness.

Turning to businesses for support is also a viable way to help defeat homelessness. Many Philadelphia companies donate time, money, and resources to local nonprofits, including homelessness agencies. Consider your employer or the places where family and friends work as a potential donor or event sponsor. Their generosity is often the result of a simple idea or request.

It is up to each of us to work to find solutions to end homelessness and these are just a few ways that with a little time, you can help to end homelessness.