PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix faces a lot of issues when it comes to homelessness - and generosity could be one of them.
As we head into Thanksgiving, there are hundreds of people across the City of Phoenix experiencing homelessness and many families and groups might want to know how they can help. The city wants people to consider that how they give matters.
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"We really want to encourage groups that want to give, whether it’s an individual family, any type of group, to give to our established organizations within the homeless service system," said Rachel Milne, with the City of Phoenix's Office of Homeless Solutions. "That way we’re not prolonging someone’s time outside by providing them with meals or even financial donations on the street."
The goal is to encourage people to use resources that currently exist. Plus, if someone doesn’t eat the food or use the clothing, it can lead to waste build-up.
"We don’t always see the consequences of me giving and feeding on the street and keeping a person in a vicious cycle," said Jerome Parker, a community pastor with First Christian Church in Phoenix.
Parker said he's worked with teen groups in the past to try and help out in Phoenix’s homeless encampments and had to reframe his thinking.
"We’re going to help them, make up sack lunches and blankets and jackets," he explained. "It was actually my wife who said that’s probably not the best way to do that."
He said that his wife told him about the Human Services Campus at the heart of what once Phoenix's largest homeless encampment, where services and meals are provided on a daily basis.
Now, he's part of the Healthy Giving Council, a coalition of community members, service providers and other local leaders who campaign and take to the streets, making sure people’s good intentions aren’t perpetuating a homeless cycle.
"There’s only so much you can do with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a bag of Cheetos, right?" he said.
When he does street outreach now, he doesn't bring food. Instead he tries to partner with a non-profit.
"So we can connect somebody with a Phoenix Rescue Mission or St. Vincent de Paul, a CBI or whatever the case may be."
Some people experiencing homelessness who have talked with 12News say it's easier when people come directly to them. And not all groups agree with this approach as a way to support the unsheltered population.
But Jerome’s push is to look at the big picture, rather than thinking in the moment. He encourages people to ask themselves the following question when considering how to donate:
"Is there more that I can actually do to help get this person closer to ending their homelessness?"
If you'd like to learn more about the Healthy Giving Council, you can go to their website here.
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