Did you know that you could dial 311 to connect to the Homeless Outreach Programs?
I originally wrote this note in the winter of 2008 and posted it on Facebook. I try to remind people often, especially as we head into winter months.
Just a quick note – for those of us who live in NYC and are not aware – you can call 311 to be transferred to the division of homeless services. There is a homeless outreach program, and if you give them a general description and geographic location of the homeless person(s) in question, they will dispatch them to that location, where they will try to convince them to go to a shelter and provide them with food and provisions.
I knew this, but had forgotten, and remembered today. While having lunch this afternoon, we saw a homeless man who was barely clothed (just a sweatshirt, no pants, no shoes) wandering midtown pandhandling. We called 311. We described the person, and it was wonderful to hear that they already knew who it was, and had dispatched the van to the general location to find him. It was great to know, that people still care for their fellow human beings.
As we go head first into these very cold and frigid winter months,let us be especially thankful that we have warm abodes-and remember those who don’t- and please remember that 311 can be used for this purpose – please tell all of your friends, your families, your coworkers about this. Let’s help each other help others.