Starting a homeless shelter is a very noble, yet a very challenging undertaking. Estimated numbers of homeless people in American are around 3.5 million, and one third of these are families with children. To alleviate the sufferings of these un-fortunate people, you, with the help of your community should know how to start a homeless shelter.
To start a shelter you need to incorporate your organization as a non-profit entity. Government aid is usually available for such ventures, but the rules and regulation for obtaining funds are quite lengthy. Therefore most people depend on community help or private donations.
Now that you have listed your organization for how to start a homeless shelter, you need to find a suitable house to rent to accommodate the homeless. This is essential, because, when applying for a license and tax exemptions, you have to provide a valid mailing address for the homeless shelter. If you lack the resources to rent or buy accommodations, launch a public appeal through the media for someone to donate space for your noble cause. Check with local clubs, and churches for assistance.
Incorporate you non-profit shelter by applying to the Secretary of State in the state in which your shelter will be located. Procedures include appointing a board of directors, the name of the organization funding the shelter, documentation of your plan and proof of a valid license. For tax exemptions you will have to apply to the Internal Revenue Service. Tax exemption is necessary for organizations and companies to donate and help you financially.
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It would help to seek financial help from other non-profit organizations, with the possibility of them listing you as a subsidiary to cover initial expenses. You must also fix the number of people that you can comfortably accommodate, without overcrowding or straining the facilities of the accommodation.
For how to start a homeless shelter, you need to recruit some
volunteers, as running a homeless shelter is beyond the mental and
physical capacity of just one person. You can get consistent and
reliable volunteers from your community, from other organizations and
even from high schools and colleges. If you have enough volunteers,
delegate some responsibilities such as applying for a license,
incorporation and tax exemption procedure to them. These are tough and
very time consuming tasks. So delegating work and responsibilities will
spare you for other vital tasks, and ensure the success of your shelter.
