It is not easy seeing someone trying to survive on the streets of the city, and our reactions can range from pity, to anger, to choosing not to see the person at all. As hard as it is to witness the suffering of others, we encourage you to exercise empathy – to imagine what it’s like to have no home and no support network, to be cold or hungry or sick, to have hundreds of people walk by you each day and pretend you don’t exist.

The question of how to help an unhoused person on the streets is not always an easy one, and while some general answers are outlined below, the best place to start is by remembering the humanity of each person you see in a public place. Treat each and every person with dignity – but also follow your own instincts. And remember that small acts of kindness can have tremendously positive repercussions in the lives of others.

To Contact an Outreach Team please contact LA-HOP. LA-HOP is designed to assist people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County with outreach services. They will use the information provided to dispatch a homeless services outreach team to the area and person in need of care.

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