Restore Hope Community Resources
National Resources
From the National Alliance to End Homelessness
Search for homeless services (housing, healthcare, food, etc) in your area
Continuum of Care (CoC) programs are local resources to learn about access to shelter, housing, and other services. Contact the CoC in your area (after entering an address, click the map to find contact information for your local CoC)
Many places offer a 2-1-1 hotline that is staffed at all times to help with connections to resources such as shelter, health care, food, and other social services programs. Find your community’s 2-1-1 hotline
Feeding America offers a search tool to locate a food bank in your area. Locate a food bank
New York City Resources
Coalition for the Homeless – Food, eviction prevention, crisis intervention, client advocacy, mail, housing, job training
New York City Relief – Food, hygiene products, prayer, Life Care visits
Bowery Mission – Meals, emergency shelter, medical care, clothing, showers, residential programs
Mainchance Drop In Center – Emergency shelter, housing, medical care, social work, meals
Washington, DC Resources
N Street Village – Services for adult females only – Emergency shelter, housing, meals, case management, counseling, medical care, domestic violence, NA/AA Meetings
Miriam’s Kitchen – Meals, case management, art therapy
Catholic Charities – Emergency shelter, housing, legal aid, financial services, immigrant and refugee services, medical care, employment, adult education, food assistance, rent and utility assistance, developmental disabilities assistance
Care Packages
Care packages are a great way to show our neighbors they are cared for and loved. See below for a list of items you may want to include in a basic care package.
- Socks
- Hand sanitizer or wipes
- Travel-sized toiletries such as soap, shampoo, body wash, lotion, sunscreen, and toothpaste/toothbrush
- Chapstick
- Hand warmers (winter)
- Bug-repellent wipes or bracelets (spring/summer)
- Simple snacks like granola bars or trail mix
- Gift cards for coffee shops or restaurants
- Something to make them smile – good examples include an encouraging note or a child’s drawing
Restore Hope Conversation and Safety Guide
– Talk TO the people you meet, not AT them – introduce yourself, ask their name, hold a conversation. If you don’t know what to say, imagine you are having lunch with a new classmate or coworker.
– Keep your personal information personal.
– Refrain from giving away cash; offer to purchase essentials such as food or toiletries instead.
– Personal safety comes first – if you find yourself in a situation that makes you fear for your safety, please walk away immediately.
– Be wise about personal contact, especially with members of the opposite sex.
– Ask before taking photos of people.
– Some people may not want to talk and that’s ok if someone refuses to engage in conversation, simply offer them any items you may be distributing along with a smile and a reminder they are loved and not forgotten.
– Avoid arguments, even over seemingly innocent topics; we are here to remind those we serve that they are loved and valued, not to force our opinions on others.
– Remember that you are making friends and building relationships, not giving handouts to poor people; keeping this perspective helps ensure those you meet feel loved and valued.
– Offer to pray WITH the people you meet not to them or for them make your interactions as personal and inviting as possible.
– Be creative – Buy flowers to hand out; Buy lunch for yourselves and a new friend then sit and eat with them; Have your kids color pictures to hand out; anything you can think of to make the people you meet feel loved and valued.
– Smile and have fun – we don’t have to do this, we get to.