How a Cold Drop (DANA) Silences One Homeless Community in Valencia and Rattles Another One

On October 29, 2024, assuming that the city hall of Valencia’s count of people living in the streets in 2023 hasn’t been reduced, at least 471 homeless people were unexpectedly hit with a Cold Drop that has completely silenced them while increasing the number of new homeless people (1,152 homeless people according to Europa Press) being provided housing by Red Cross (Cruz Roja). One homeless community has been destroyed and silenced, and another one has been created and given visibility.

If you or anyone you know is currently affected by homelessness due to the Cold Drop (DANA) in Valencia, please contact our HELPLINE (+34 697 877 089)!

Why isn’t the press speaking about how the most vulnerable group has been affected?

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The growing number of deaths, which is currently at 214 (according to El País on November 3, 2024), could reach the total amount of 1,900 missing people who have been officially reported. Not one homeless person has been identified as dead or as a missing person.

This lack of visibility for the homeless community is not new. Approximately a month ago, El Periodico wrote a story about a woman who died at Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. We learned that she was homeless because a Homeless Entrepreneur, Fabio Betancourt, was friends with her. The fact she was homeless and that it took 4 hours for anyone to recognize she was dead went unmentioned.

Fabio also proactively reached out to homeless organizations in Valencia to see how the homeless community in Barcelona can provide direct support through Homeless Entrepreneur’s community.

“Approximately, 325,000 people are at ground zero of this tragedy and 75,000 homes have been destroyed.”

— Agencia EFE

How will government, corporations and citizens respond to this increase in homelessness?

If you use social media as a news source, you’ll get a quick feel of public opinion: government and corporate response is being deemed too late and too slow in viral content, and NGOs and citizens are mobilizing as quick as they can. Public figures are being attacked and the everyday citizen is stepping into the limelight.

“Imagine if society did the same with the same intensity for the 28,552 people offically declared homeless by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda…”

— Andrew Funk, Founder President of Homeless Entrepreneur

Just like homelessness before this natural disaster, the pain and suffering is deep for those directly affected and hard to truly comprehend for those who are indirectly affected as they read about it on their smartphone in their downtime.

So Many New Questions for the Same Old Problem of Homelessness…

1. Will the “old” homeless community connect with the “new” homeless community and join forces to uplift each other?

2. Will homelessness get worse as poverty becomes the norm for a growing number of citizens affected by an unexpected crisis they are unable to respond to due to lack of resources and/or public/private/civic support?

3. What will we learn from this tragedy and will we be better prepared next time?

What are you going to do to help people experiencing homelessness in Valencia due to the Cold Drop? (Some options below)

Donating allows Homeless Entrepreneur to leverage its community, programs and resources to support people experiencing homelessness in Valencia, Spain due to the Cold Drop.

Volunteering allows you to providing greater impact through a coordinated approach to supporting people experiencing homelessness in Valencia, Spain due to the Cold Drop.

Sending us original pictures and videos related to people experiencing homelessness in Valencia, Spain due to the Cold Drop will allow us to generate more awareness and attract new unidentified resources to end homelessness for people experiencing it in Valencia, Spain.

According to Wikipedia, the Spanish government devised and enacted the Plan Sur, which rerouted the city's main river, the Turia, after the last similar tragedy, which took place in October, 1957, when flooding in Valencia killed 81 people while significantly damaging property.

How will the Spanish government, corporations and civil society respond this time?

Lastly, Homeless Entrepreneur would like to publicly express it condolenses to everyone who has been directly and indirectly affected by the Cold Drop in Valencia, Spain.

As the community of Valencia rebuilds again after this terrible tragedy, we only hope that society comes together to become stronger as it uplifts all of its citizens out of homelessness.

Homeless Health: Connecting Homeless Community with Health Sector

What are Homeless Entrepreneur’s health initiatives and how are you connected?

Written by Andria Thomas

The Importance of Health Access for the Homeless

Every day, we witness people experiencing homelessness. Whether it's seeing a woman holding a sign for help or watching a man trying to rest on bare concrete, our immediate thoughts often turn to providing essential necessities like food and shelter. While these are undeniably crucial, there is another vital aspect of their lives that frequently gets overlooked: health and well-being. Addressing the healthcare needs of the homeless community is not only a moral imperative but also a practical one, as it can significantly improve their quality of life and prospects for the future. This article explores the innovative efforts of Homeless Entrepreneur’s health department, which aims to connect the homeless with essential health services, bridging a critical gap in their care.

The determinants of health and well-being in human habitation are illustrated comprehensively in this diagram.

As we know, most people experiencing homelessness lack a network of resources. One of the most important resources a human can have is access to proper healthcare. According to the European Parliament, “poor health is both a factor and a consequence of homelessness.” The harsh realities of living on the streets or in unstable shelters expose homeless individuals to extreme weather, unsanitary environments, and constant stress, all of which contribute to deteriorating health. Chronic illnesses, mental health issues, and infectious diseases are prevalent, and these conditions are often left untreated due to the barriers in accessing healthcare.

Reagan Sohan, one of my fellow interns in the health department, emphasizes the importance of connecting homeless individuals to the medical community:

“The lack of access to healthcare for the homeless community is detrimental to their quality of life and personal health. Raising awareness on the importance of the issue connects those who need support to those who can provide it.”

— Reagan Sohan, Health Intern at Homeless Entrepreneur

By creating pathways to healthcare for the homeless community, we not only address immediate health concerns but also provide a foundation for long-term stability and improvement in their lives. Homeless Entrepreneur’s health department is a prime example of how targeted efforts can make a significant difference, offering hope and tangible benefits to one of society's most vulnerable populations.

HOMEcan: Bridging the Gap between Homeless Community & Medical World

Homeless Entrepreneur’s health department recognizes these challenges and seeks to bridge the gap by connecting homeless individuals with essential health services. It’s star initiative is curently HomeCAN, which is an educational campaign aimed at reimagining humanity's approach to ending homelessness, with a particular focus on those affected by cancer. Every year, one in twenty Europeans is diagnosed with cancer, and one in 829 Europeans experiences homelessness. Alarmingly, homeless Europeans are 41 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, and the mortality rate from cancer is twice as high in the homeless community. These statistics highlight a pressing issue where homelessness and cancer intersect, affecting countless lives. Through workshops, seminars, and conferences, HomeCAN raises awareness and educates the public about the intersection of homelessness and cancer. This project promotes increased interaction between the homeless community and healthcare professionals, reducing barriers to prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment options, and rehabilitation. HomeCAN's efforts foster greater knowledge and awareness, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for homeless individuals affected by cancer.

Ramón Feiner Bas, who lived on the streets for over a decade, shared his transformative experience:

“I managed to survive, living on the streets for 12-13 years, during which I met Tomás, a homeless man with cancer. He spoke highly of Andrew and Homeless Entrepreneur and how their team had helped him with a problem and facilitated its resolution. So, I decided to meet him and redirect my path upward and stay afloat.”

— Ramon Feiner, Homeless Entrepreneur graduate

Ramon’s testimony evidently shows the dedication of Homeless Entrepreneur’s call to action.

Two Homeless Entrepreneurs, Ramon Feiner Bas (right), and Fabio Betancourt (left) shared their experiences and insights on the impact of homelessness on their lives with me (Andria Thomas).

The second is the HELP program, a holistic one-year initiative designed to support the homeless on their path to independence. This integration creates a stable foundation for sustainable change through active citizenship, community involvement, and life purpose development. Homeless Entrepreneur is expanding the HELP Program’s health department to further connect the homeless to essential healthcare services and promoting healthy habits. This progress ensures that participants not only gain economic stability but also maintain and improve their health in all areas, which is vital for long-term success. Holistic health is extremely important to our wellbeing, and that is what this project is aiming to show. In my conversations with author and wellness coach, Claudia van Zuiden we discussed the power of health.

“Aligning our four sectors of health: mental, physical, social, and even spiritual, we can easier achieve this idea of a complete wellbeing.”

— Claudia van Zuiden, Coach Advisor at Homeless Entrepreneur

Homeless Entrepreneur supports the growth in these departments.

Homeless Entrepreneur’s health community is making significant strides in connecting homeless individuals with vital health services, promoting holistic well-being, and fostering a supportive community.

Broader Impacts and Future Connections

One of the challenges that comes with trying to connect people to resources is building the support network. Personally, I was challenged with making connections as soons as I enter Homeless Entrepreneur’s internship program. I have encountered many people experiencing homeless, and yes, I have empathized with their situations, but I never truly understood how it related to me. This was a significant barrier in my work and kept me from really doing more for the population that I am serving.

The biggest thing that helped me overcome this was piecing together how it affected me: a 19-year-old college student studying abroad in Barcelona. For example, less homelessness would create a healthier and safer environment for enter. Moreover, as someone who is entering a new country and is easily able to acquire housing, I realized that it is a basic human right to shelter. So, when we are talking about the relevance of homelessness, we must truly connect ourselves to the cause. How does improving access to healthcare for the homeless community affect the government? Well, it enhances public health and safety through reduced spread of infectious diseases. It leads to significant economic savings as preventive care and timely treatment reduce reliance on expensive emergency services. Additionally, providing better healthcare can contribute to social stability by lowering homelessness rates and associated social issues, ultimately fostering a more stable and prosperous community. How does improving the homeless’ access to healthcare affect Spanish businesses? Healthier homeless individuals are more likely to find stable employment, thus becoming potential customers for local businesses. This increased economic activity boosts sales and revenue for shops, restaurants, and other enterprises. Additionally, reducing homelessness and its associated public health issues enhances the city’s overall environment, making it more attractive to tourists and potential investors. 

Centro Médico Teknon in Barcelona highlights the importance of accessible healthcare for all citizens.

Moreover, companies that support or participate in health initiatives can enhance their corporate social responsibility profile, improving their reputation and customer loyalty. How does improving the homeless’ access to healthcare affect citizens? It creates a safer and cleaner urban environment, enhancing the quality of life for all residents. It fosters social cohesion and empathy, as citizens see tangible efforts to support vulnerable populations. It can lead to a more inclusive and compassionate society, where all members have the opportunity to thrive. So, I challenge you to think about how health and homelessness affect YOU. Everyone is connected to homelessness; it is just a matter of how deep you look into it. This is why Homeless Entrepreneur’s health department is so important. Homeless Entrepreneur is bridging the gap between not only the medical world and the homeless, but everyone to the homeless. By promoting health education, it gives everyone the opportunity to connect with people experiencing homeless, bringing them more support.

*Thank you for reading this article! If you would like to contribute your thoughts, pictures or videos to this article or believe you have found mistakes and/or misinformation, please contact us and tell us about it by clicking on the button next to this text, so we can take your feedback into consideration.

Connect with the author, Andria Thomas, via LinkedIn!

How to Approach a Homeless Person for the First Time

The Four Faces of Homelessness Overcome: Transitional, Episodic, Chronic & Hidden

Written by Andrew Funk

First of all, you need to define what type of homelessness you are referring to because it’s much more than an individual suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues.

“The main reason people become homeless is because they cannot afford rent any more or they are no longer welcome to live in the place they call home.”

— Common Sense

1)     Work instability or lack of funds: A lack of income due to a low salary or too much debt makes it impossible to continue paying rent at the same price as before. Even worse, when an individual or family is forced to leave that home, they often don’t get their deposit returned and don’t have the economic resources to cover a 2-3 month deposit as well as the first month to enter a new home, so they get blackballed from the normal housing market, which only leaves the option to rely on friends, family and strangers. Once that network has been burned, which doesn’t take too long, these individuals and families end up in hostels and motels as well as renting rooms without contracts leaving them without any legal rights. Once these options have been burnt, they are forced to deal with social services and enter a long waiting list to enter social housing, which means vehicles and tents become the next best adobe before being forced to sleep under bridges, in parks and in the street.

2)     No funds at all: Unemployment leads to the same downward spiral as a lack of job stability or lack of funds.

The only force that keeps individuals and families away from this downfall is having a strong network of friends and family that can keep them afloat until they increase the income again. Some people fall into the trap of unhealthy relationships with undesirable boyfriends or girlfriends to stay out of the streets.

Uncertainty and timing play a key role as well as patience. This stress leads to reduced health for everyone included, but may allow the individuals and families to bounce back on their feet.

Now that you have a little more insight on how people become homeless, it’s time to learn about the four different types of homelessness (transitional, episodic, chronic and hidden) so you can address individuals and families according to their situation instead of general assumptions fueled by mass media and social media.

Transitional Homelessness

Maria Cruz successfully overcame transitional homelessness during COVID19 thanks to our Helpline, Voices & HELP program as well as the suport and training provided by IEBS Digital School and IBM SkillsBuild.

What is transitional homelessness?

Simply stated, an individual or group of people who are experiencing homelessness due to a significant change or crisis in their life i.e. divorce, death of a loved one, health related issues and losing one’s job. This type of homelessness is often a common, silent step back into a normal lifestyle, which goes unheard many times due to the sense of failure, helplessness, pride and embarrassment experienced by a person experiencing transitional homelessness.

People experiencing episodic homelessness have the least amount of knowledge of the assistance and empowerment-based resources for the homeless community and waste a lot of time trying to figure out how to get the right help.

How can you approach someone experiencing transitional homelessness?

Unless that person tells you, it’ll be very difficult to address this issue let alone help him or her. People experiencing transitional homelessness tend to hold onto their previous habits more and do their best to pretend that everything is ok. Same clothes, same routines, different smile…

“First ask if the person is aware that he or she is experiencing homelessness. Then ask how he or she imagines improving his or her situation.Finally, invite that person to contact Homeless Entrepreneur or other organizations providing support that could empower them.”

— Maria Cruz, Homeless Entrepreneur graduate

We recommend giving every single individual the same level of respect and love no matter what crisis s/he may be facing.

The first question should be “How are you doing?”

The second is “would you like to discuss it?”

If the person chooses to open up, which s/he isn’t obliged to do, please listen to his or her story carefully. When it is your turn to speak, we recommend asking questions to confirm the veracity of the story and understand his or her current situation.

Please do not make the mistake of trying to save someone’s life in your first interaction. You wouldn’t like it if someone pretended to fix your life in a conversation and the reality is that it’s not even possible, so don’t try to!

We strongly recommend you inviting the person experiencing transitional homelessness to contact our Helpline (+34 697 877 089) for further guidance and support. All Helpline beneficiaries are invited to share their story through our Voices program, so they can improve their chances of connecting with our community to improve their situation. All Voices beneficiaries are eligible to apply for our HELP program to receive intense support which lasts up to 9 months, which aims to help them become active, working citizens.

Amongst the resources and opportunities that Homeless Entrepreneur provides thanks to our community of donors and network support are free IBM SkillsBuild courses; our Voices program to share their story and improve their chances of connecting with our community to improve their situation; and the possibility of applying for the HELP program to become an active, working citizen again.

Episodic Homelessness

Marco Robinson successfully overcame episodic homelessness as a child and is currently an Award Winning Entrepreneur & Business Coach.

What is episodic homelessness?

In other words, an individual or group of people who are experiencing homelessness at specific times during the year, but not year round, due to seasonal work or unstable jobs. This type of homelessness is often an unrecognized, frustrating step back into a normal lifestyle, which isn’t respected many times due to the popular belief that season workers and people with unstable jobs are lazy and don’t want to find other work. Many legal and illegal migrant workers become the brunt of political disputes found in the news, social media and social gatherings.

People experiencing episodic homelessness have greater knowledge of the assistance-based resources for the homeless community and optimize them accordingly.  Empowerment-based resources tend to be unidentified, but would be used if made available.

How can you approach someone experiencing episodic homelessness?

Unless that person tells you, it’ll be challenging to address this issue let alone help him or her. People experiencing episodic homelessness may have a harder time holding on to their previous habits or let some of them going during these periods of homelessness and may not accept they are homeless because they feel more connected with their lifestyle when they are doing well. Similar clothes, similar routines, different smile…

“Make sure you are in the right state of mind to speak with someone who is feeling ashamed, guilty and embarrassed. Prepare for mood swings from someone experiencing episodic homelessness because they are scared, and many times don’t know how to recognize help. Don’t call them out on their situation. Remember, a smile is a great first interaction. Let them know you offer friendship and break the ice with a small gesture like inviting them for coffee or tea during a genuine conversation.”

— Marco Robinson, founder of FreedomX, a homeless charity in the UK, and partner of Homeless Entrepreneur

We recommend giving every single individual the same level of respect and love no matter what crisis s/he may be facing.

The first question should be “How are you doing?”

The second is “would you like to discuss it?”

If the person chooses to open up, which s/he isn’t obliged to do, please listen to his or her story carefully. When it is your turn to speak, we recommend asking questions to confirm the veracity of the story and understand his or her current situation.

Please do not make the mistake of trying to save someone’s life in your first interaction. You wouldn’t like it if someone pretended to fix your life in a conversation and the reality is that it’s not even possible, so don’t try to!

We strongly recommend you inviting the person experiencing episodic homelessness to contact our Helpline (+34 697 877 089) for further guidance and support.

Amongst the resources and opportunities that Homeless Entrepreneur provides thanks to our community of donors and network support are free IBM SkillsBuild courses; our Voices program to share their story and improve their chances of connecting with our community to improve their situation; and the possibility of applying for the HELP program to become an active, working citizen again.

After reading this section, you may ask why it sounds exactly the same as the way you communicate with someone dealing with transitional homelessness… because it is! They’re people!

Episodic homelessness is a little bit trickier than transitional homelessness, since the people experiencing this type of homelessness become a little bit number to their situation. There is still hope to improve their circumstances, but there is also a danger of deteriorated mental and physical health leading to chronic homelessness.

Chronic Homelessness

Ramon Feiner is a successful Homeless Entrepreneur who overcame 14 years of chronic homelessness in Spain thanks to our Helpline, Voices & HELP program.

What is chronic homelessness?

In lay terms, an individual or group of people who are experiencing homelessness during the year due to a lack of opportunities or inability to take advantage of them. This type of homelessness is often a desolating, unthinkable step back into a normal lifestyle, which is highly criticized due to the popular belief that people experiencing chronic homelessness have no value to add to society and only leach off of it. Many individuals facing chronic homelessness become the brunt of political disputes found in the news, social media and social gatherings. In extreme circumstances, they may die to weather and personal attacks. Chronic homelessness also shaves off years or even decades of an individual’s life. According to Care Quality Commission: The average age of death among homeless people in the UK is 47 for a man and 43 for a woman. This compares to 79.5 for men and 83.1 for women in the general population.

People experiencing chronic homelessness have a complete knowledge of the assistance-based resources for the homeless community and chose the ones that they prefer and ignore the other ones. Empowerment-based resources aren’t attractive in this case because little-to-no credibility is given to them.

How can you approach someone experiencing chronic homelessness?

It’s easier to see, but hard to address because these individuals tend to be the most visible in the street. People experiencing chronic homelessness tend to have lost most if not all of their previous habits and come to accept that their home is homelessness. Different clothes, different routines, distant smile…

“The first thing you need to do before speaking with a person suffering from chronic homelessness is observe from a distance to ensure that he or she is in the right state of mind, so you can have a proper conversation. If you decide that the person is receptive to small talk, strike up a chat and talk as long as you’d like to. If something doesn’t add up while speaking, feel free to say goodbye and wish him or her a wonderful day.”

— Ramon Feiner, Homeless Entrepreneur graduate

We recommend giving every single individual the same level of respect and love no matter what crisis s/he may be facing.

The first question should be “How are you doing?”

The second is “would you like to discuss it?”

If the person chooses to open up, which s/he isn’t obliged to do, please listen to his or her story carefully. When it is your turn to speak, we recommend asking questions to confirm the veracity of the story and understand his or her current situation.

Please do not make the mistake of trying to save someone’s life in your first interaction. You wouldn’t like it if someone pretended to fix your life in a conversation and the reality is that it’s not even possible, so don’t try to!

We strongly recommend you inviting the person experiencing chronic homelessness to contact our Helpline (+34 697 877 089) for further guidance and support.

Amongst the resources and opportunities that Homeless Entrepreneur provides thanks to our community of donors and network support are free IBM SkillsBuild courses; our Voices program to share their story and improve their chances of connecting with our community to improve their situation; and the possibility of applying for the HELP program to become an active, working citizen again.

After reading this section, you may ask why it sounds exactly the same as the way you communicate with someone dealing with transitional and episodic homelessness… because it is! They’re still people!

Chronic homelessness is a much trickier than transitional and episodic homelessness, since the people experiencing this type of homelessness become a much number to their situation. There is little-to-no hope to improve their circumstances, unless emergency support and assistance-based solutions are provided. Once the individual is capable of taking control of his or her situation again, the empowerment-based solutions will play a key role in becoming active, working citizens again.

Hidden Homelessness

Andrew Funk overcame hidden homelessness in Barcelona, Spain thanks to his 35,000 contacts in social media, entrepreneurial spirit and desire to improve his own life. He created Homeless Entrepreneur to empower people made of potential out of homelessness.

What is hidden homelessness?

Hidden homelessness is exactly what it sounds like it is… hidden! This type of homelessness is a truly invisible, challenging step back into a normal lifestyle, which is extremely unknown due to its complexities. Many individuals facing hidden homelessness don’t receive the support they need because they consciously hide their situation from others. Hidden homelessness is not deemed to be problematic or an emergency, so the resources they may use to support them almost never arrive as quickly as they are needed. Hidden homelessness is also hidden because circumstances like coach surfing or staying with friends, family and stranger due to a lack of money isn’t considered to be homeless by mainstream society.

People experiencing hidden homelessness have little-to-no knowledge of the assistance-based resources for the homeless community because they do not see themselves as homeless nor are accepted as homeless by the main actors supporting the homeless community, which is synonymous for people experiencing chronic homelessness. Empowerment-based resources are attractive for people suffering from this type of homelessness, but they don’t normally receive them because they aren’t identifiable.

How can you approach someone experiencing hidden homelessness?

Unless that person tells you, it’ll be impossible to address this issue let alone help him or her. People experiencing hidden homelessness are normally able to hold onto their previous habits, but may let some of them go and may not accept they are homeless because society doesn’t label them as being homeless. Similar clothes, similar routines, hidden smile…

“‘Homeless people aren’t invisible, society is blind.’ Overcoming the fear of showing your physical and emotional scars takes courage, so make sure you approach a person experiencing hidden homelessness in the same way you’d like to be treated if it was the other way around. Your first interaction should be showing true interest in their well-being because that’s what will help them become active, working citizens again.”

— Andrew Funk, Founder President of Homeless Entrepreneur

We recommend giving every single individual the same level of respect and love no matter what crisis s/he may be facing.

The first question should be “How are you doing?”

The second is “would you like to discuss it?”

If the person chooses to open up, which s/he isn’t obliged to do, please listen to his or her story carefully. When it is your turn to speak, we recommend asking questions to confirm the veracity of the story and understand his or her current situation.

Please do not make the mistake of trying to save someone’s life in your first interaction. You wouldn’t like it if someone pretended to fix your life in a conversation and the reality is that it’s not even possible, so don’t try to!

We strongly recommend you inviting the person experiencing chronic homelessness to contact our Helpline (+34 697 877 089) for further guidance and support.

Amongst the resources and opportunities that Homeless Entrepreneur provides thanks to our community of donors and network support are free IBM SkillsBuild courses; our Voices program to share their story and improve their chances of connecting with our community to improve their situation; and the possibility of applying for the HELP program to become an active, working citizen again.

After reading this section, you may ask why it sounds exactly the same as the way you communicate with someone dealing with transitional and episodic homelessness… because it is! They’re still people even if they are hidden!

Hidden homelessness is easier to deal with than transitional and episodic homelessness unless the person is in denial of their situation. Depending on his or her mental health, there is a lot of hope or in difference to improve their circumstances. On a positive note, both assistance and empowerment-based solutions are the most effective for the group if s/he is willing and able to accept them as an opportunity to become active, working citizens again.

We hope that this article makes it easier for you to interact with people experiencing homelessness when you have the first opportunity to have a real conversation with him or her.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

We’d love to hear stories about your interaction with the homeless people, so we can improve our understanding of it.

If you’d like to include anything to this article, please send us a message and we’ll consider doing so.

Thanks for empowering people made of potential out of homelessness with us!