As libraries increasingly serve the homeless, unhoused, and vulnerable, a wide variety of perspectives have circulated. Below, we have included several resources that strive to equip library staff with the tools they need to best serve everyone who enters the library. Although approaches can vary, a central goal persists: libraries should be aiming to improve services to all populations, including individuals and families facing housing insecurity.
Putting together an up-to-date list of resources for library patrons can be helpful to get them connected to the services they need! This can include health clinics, food banks, federal assistance program applications, legal help, housing agencies, and more. The links below can help to identify some of the services available in your community:
Homeless Training (previously Homeless Libraries) provides detailed training programs designed for staff that interact with unhoused populations. Their annual memberships include access to numerous training courses on a variety of topics as well as live training sessions. Try out their free introductory course here!
Hear more from the founder of Homeless Training, Ryan Dowd, in the video below:
