The Christmas before I helped a homeless Big Issue vendor. I kept seeing him on my way to the office and he always looked so sad. I got in touch with the Big Issue and found out his name. I anonymously bought him a Christmas gift (some new clothes) and later helped to get a new passport. In person, whenever I’d see him, I’d buy him coffee. 

I now work in another area and pass a busy shopping street on the way to work. Next to the admin entrances into one of the big high street stores is a young homeless guy. He rough sleeps there. He does not look sad. He looks lost and also hopeful like he is waiting for someone to help him.

It may be just in my head.

I want to help. In fact, every morning I plan to stop and chat to him and find out what help he needs. But something is stopping me, I don’t know what it is. Maybe because he is young.

I was really glad to find out about Streetlink who you can tell about a rough sleeper (online or via app) and they get in touch and notify local authorities so he or she could get the help they need. This post explains what they do.

The most important part for me in the post above is that homeless people mostly do not know how to get help even if it’s there. At the same time authorities can’t help them because they do not know about them. Streetlink aims to be the link between the two.

I’ll see if they actually can help and if not, I’ll do it myself. Let this be my Christmas present to myself 🙂 Helping others is the best way to happiness, they say. If you do not feel too happy in the run up to Christmas, give it a go, help someone, not expecting anything back.

And – thank you.