WeAre1's next plan is to help and save the homeless in Lebanon for the next 10 years. Lebanon has the highest homeless percentage than any other country in the middle east due to the Syrian crisis, rising numbers up to 2 million.
In Lebanon when it comes to the homeless crisis no one is helping, they don’t have any shelters for them, or a single kitchen to serve food. They also face the extreme heat in the summer and the freezing cold in the winter.
The rape cases every single month that happens to the homeless from the age of 5 to 18 rises.
The issues they are facing
1. Human trafficking
Traffickers use violence, threats, deception and other manipulative tactics to trap victims in horrific situations every day, often targeting the most vulnerable population: homeless youth. Vulnerable and easily manipulated, children and youth experiencing homelessness are easy prey for the worldwide, multi-billion dollar criminal human trafficking industry.
2. Foster Care
When young people age out of foster care and other child welfare services without support, they become susceptible to homelessness, human trafficking, and other threats to their well-being.
3. Physical and Mental Health
The health risks of homelessness takes an enormous toll -- both physically and mentally, and every year. Thousands of people experiencing homelessness die on the streets due to illness, assault, or suicide. The risks and trauma they experience at this stage can produce long-lasting effects, including on their development and functioning.
4. Justice System Involvement
Youth homelessness and justice system involvement intersect in various ways and, without positive intervention, can damage a young person’s prospects for a happy and fulfilling life.
5. LGBTQ
LGBTQ youth face greater risks of homelessness than their peers and higher levels of hardship than other youth living homeless. WeAre1 offers all homeless a safe place to live and heal.
6. Pregnant and Parenting Youth
The brave homeless who walk through our doors are our inspiration in everything we do. WeAre1 provides holistic care for people experiencing homelessness, including young families and their babies.
7. Affordable Housing
The lack of affordable housing puts millions of youth and adults alike at increasing risk of homelessness. Today, rising rents and stagnant or declining wages are obliging more people to spend a large portion of their income on housing, putting increasing numbers at risk of homelessness.
8. Employment
For homeless people living on the streets, finding a job is very difficult, if not impossible. Many have no education and no one to offer guidance or to show them how to write a resume, how to search, or how to prepare for an interview.
Every homeless experience and life is unique. That’s why our staff works with each person individually to develop a case plan that is tailored to their specific needs and goals.
What is our Continuum of Care?
Through a combination of support strategies, including educational programs, job training and placement, medical services, mental health and substance abuse counseling, legal aid and beyond, we will help homeless people embrace the great promise of their lives, overcome steep barriers to independence and strive to achieve their aspirations.
- Street & Van Outreach
Our Outreach teams are often the critical first step in connecting homeless people with assistance. Armed with warm blankets, free sandwiches and information about WeAre1, they’re out on the streets every day to help them.
- Crisis Care and intake
When the homeless come to WeAre1, addressing their immediate needs is our priority – warm meals, showers, safe beds. But our Crisis Care involves so much more: It's also about building a foundation of safety and trust so often eroded by life on the streets.
- Long-term support
Once their most urgent needs are met at our crisis shelter, we offer longer-term support services and transitional housing (through our Rights of Passage program) to guide them on a path of self-sufficiency.
What we need from you
Your gift today provides immediate crisis care and transformative services for the homeless in need. Our movements depends on courageous people like you. Unlike other NGOs, WeAre1 will make sure that you know where your donations go, by posting official yearly auditing statements on our website. We work to ensure every dollar you donate to WeAre1 serves the homeless we care for as efficiently as possible.
We are raising money for a cause we care deeply about, but we need your help to reach our goal. Please become a supporter to follow our progress and share with your friends. Every homeless deserves a home with love and safety. The percentage of the homeless under the age of five years old is rising daily in Lebanon.
We are trying to save as many as we can. We are not sure how much we would succeed without funds and kindness from other fellow people. What I have learned in my life is that the biggest problem is not the violence of the bad people, it is the silence of the good people. I wish for everyone to join with WeAre1 for this good cause. I believe humanity is still in each one of us. Every homeless person deserves an opportunity to live a fruitful and productive life. There’s still time to make a difference and save lives.
