Compassionate Contributions: How Your Donation Helps Families in Crisis

For many people, the decision to donate to an organization is largely an emotional one. They often choose to back nonprofits that align with their personal beliefs, address causes they hold dear, or tug at their heartstrings. For instance, an animal lover may opt to donate to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) or their local humane society. A person concerned about environmentalism and climate change may choose to back Keep America Beautiful or The Nature Conservancy. Someone who comes from a military family or holds service members and first responders in high regard may elect to support K9s for Warriors or Tunnels to Towers. There is a wealth of worthy causes and nonprofits supporting them worldwide. So how do you choose the one that’s right for you? And how do you know that your donation is making a difference?

Choosing the Nonprofit That’s Right for You

Philanthropy fits budgets of every size. If you’ve built charitable donations into your personal budget, but haven’t decided where to send them, consider the following:

Make a list of causes or crises that matter most to you and begin researching organizations with a mission that aligns with your values and goals
Narrow the list of organizations down by learning which ones are transparent about their operations and finances; Are they responsible about managing their funds responsibly?
Assess the nonprofits on your list to see which ones have a great track record of achieving their goals and making an impact
Research the leadership of the nonprofits on your list for longevity and effectiveness
Ask yourself if the nonprofits on your list can adapt to fit the needs of a changing world, are they innovative, and do they engage with the communities they serve
Check your list against national charity watchdog organizations like Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits

You may elect to give your donation to a national or global organization that’s making big moves out in the world, or you may choose to make a more impactful contribution to a nonprofit that’s in your backyard.

Why Helping Families Experiencing Homelessness is a Cause Worth Backing

Homelessness is on the rise – across all categories. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the U.S. witnessed an 18% increase between its 2023 Point In Time (PIT) Count of homeless individuals and its 2024 PIT Count. With that increase comes a rising demand for more homeless services, with homeless response workers serving more than 1.1 million people in need. Unfortunately, resources are currently insufficient to meet the demand. In 2024, no state in the nation had enough permanent housing to serve everyone experiencing homelessness. Some studies suggest that the U.S. can only provide permanent shelter to an estimated 16% of unhoused individuals. In Georgia, that number drops to 9%.

Unfortunately, those statistics don’t address the “hidden homeless” – a term that refers to individuals and families who do not have a permanent home and are living in temporary and unstable conditions, often out of sight and uncounted in national statistics. They may be bunking in with friends or family, culling together enough money for a hotel room, or sleeping in their cars or tents.

The Institute for Children, Poverty, & Homelessness (ICPH) estimates that roughly one-third of individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States are members of families with at least one adult and one minor child. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2024 estimates, the number of people in families saw the largest increase among all types of homelessness, rising 39% over the prior year. A study by the National Governors Association found that nearly half of the children who experience a homeless episode each year are age 5 or under, with 11% under the age of 1. Their parents are often young as well: Nearly one in five families is headed by a parent under 25.

The lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of homelessness. Add to that the fact that wages are not keeping up with the ever-increasing cost of living – including the high cost of childcare – and bureaucratic barriers are preventing families from quickly accessing safety net programs. There are also those mothers with children who escape domestic violence without a support system to provide a stable roof over their heads.

Homelessness is Not a “Hopeless Case”

The good news is that the United States has turned the tide on homelessness in the past, and it can do so again. The nation witnessed a decline in people experiencing homelessness between 2016 and 2018. The ICPH believes the U.S. can battle homelessness through a multi-pronged approach that involves:

Access to safe, emergency shelter with wrap-around services and immediate interventions to bring families inside who are living on the streets, in cars, and other uninhabitable situations.
Purpose-built shelters should offer programming that positively impacts the families it serves to help them identify and achieve their goals
A focus on permanent housing access that is truly affordable for families in all markets
Robust prevention efforts and addressing the root causes of homelessness to stop it before it begins
Supporting post-shelter housing stability through a period of aftercare follow-up or connections to community-based services

One Georgia Nonprofit That is Addressing the Need to Support Families Experiencing Homelessness

Launched in 1991 and based in Duluth, Georgia, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Rainbow Village has endeavored to foster a “village” beyond the Village. It exists to bring Help, Hope, Housing, and Healing to families experiencing homelessness. The organization employs a comprehensive approach that addresses many of the solutions outlined above. In the nonprofit’s 2025 Impact Report, it provided a transparent review of the impacts it made last year, as well as its positioning to make even more meaningful impacts in the future.

In 2025, Rainbow Village…

Served 46 Families, including 112 Kids – Rainbow Village helps reduce community-wide pressure on emergency shelters, schools, hospitals, and social services.
Fielded 1,876 Inquiries for Assistance – It’s clear that local families are facing significant housing instability.
Facilitated a 92% Increase in Credit Scores Among its Clients – With an average score of 629 at move-out, the program positions families to access better housing, secure transportation, and pursue higher-paying jobs— ultimately strengthening the region’s workforce and long-term economic vitality.
Witnessed an 88% Permanent Housing Move-In Rate – Families are transitioning into stable housing and staying housed. This reduces neighborhood turnover, strengthens school continuity for children, and contributes to safer, more connected communities.
Supplied Mental Health Support for 78% of Adults & 34% of Children – Families are healing from trauma. Improved emotional well-being means stronger family functioning, greater school engagement, and lower long-term social and healthcare costs for the community.

With a total revenue of $2,091,670, roughly 46% came from monetary or in-kind donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, community organizations, and faith partners. Beyond all that it accomplished last year, Rainbow Village is in the midst of its “Building Homes, Building Hope” Capital Campaign to more than double its capacity, raising the number of families it can serve with its blend of transitional housing, success coaching, and transformational programming from 30 families at a time to 66 families. In addition to its existing housing, construction is underway on two new apartment buildings with 36 units, where families can live for up to two years as they journey towards self-sufficiency.

Donations to Rainbow Village directly impact the organization’s programming. For instance, its monthly donors who contribute $30 per month provide help for the 30 families currently residing at its campus. $50 per month provides hope for the next generation by sending a child to Summer Camp at no cost to their parent(s). $75 per month provides safe housing by ensuring fire, safety, repair, and maintenance needs are met for each apartment. $100 per month provides one year of success coaching to promote healing for one family. In short, donations make a difference at Rainbow Village – directly impacting families in crisis.

Mental Dividends Come from Making a Difference for Others in Need

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” – Maya Angelou

No matter the cause or nonprofit you choose to support, the rewards of giving will undoubtedly flow back to you. According to Psychology Today, there’s a scientific basis for generosity. Contributor Diana Hill, Ph.D., suggests, “Humans evolved to be generous. Our brains, hormones, and nervous systems are built for caregiving because generosity strengthens our survival as a group. When we care for each other, we all thrive.“ Studies have shown that people who give generously have better blood pressure, hearing, and sleep, and may even live longer.

Should the cause you opt to support involve families in crisis – whether overcoming the trauma of a natural catastrophic event or the scourge of homelessness, do your research before clicking that “DONATE” button. Then challenge yourself regarding how big an impact you’d like to make. One thing is clear: if you have the capacity to give, give generously and know that the world is a better place because you’re in it.

Sources: National Alliance to End Homelessness State of Homelessness: 2025 Edition – National Alliance to End Homelessness

ICPH.org Family-Homelessness-101-National-WEB_8.21.25.pdf