Why Summer Is One of the Hardest Seasons for People Experiencing Homelessness

When people think about homelessness, they usually picture freezing temperatures, snow-covered sidewalks, and bitter winter nights.

But what many people don’t realize is that summer can be just as dangerous.

Extreme heat, dehydration, sun exposure, and limited access to clean water create challenges that are often overlooked. While many of us are enjoying vacations, cookouts, and time with family, thousands of people are simply trying to find shade, stay hydrated, and make it safely through another day.

That’s why Project I Am continues serving our unhoused neighbors throughout the summer. Compassion isn’t seasonal and neither is the need.

As someone who has been serving people experiencing homelessness since I was eight years old, I’ve learned that one of the biggest misconceptions is believing people only need help when it’s cold outside.

The truth is, they need to know someone cares every day of the year.

But one of my favorite parts of Project I Am isn’t just packing Blessing Bags or serving our unhoused neighbors.

It’s walking into classrooms like this one and watching young people realize they already have everything they need to make a difference.

Compassion isn’t something we’re born with, it’s something we practice.

The earlier we start teaching it, the stronger our communities become.

When one young person chooses to care, that compassion spreads to families, classrooms, neighborhoods, and eventually entire communities. That’s how lasting change begins.

One of the first lessons I learned as a five-year-old still guides me today:

“Homeless people are people too.”

That simple belief became the foundation for everything Project I Am stands for.

It’s why we don’t just distribute resources, we strive to restore dignity.

It’s why we encourage young people to volunteer, not because they have to, but because serving others changes the person who serves just as much as it helps the person being served.

Summer often means vacations, family cookouts, festivals, and days spent outdoors with friends. But for thousands of people, summer is spent searching for water, trying to stay cool, and simply making it through another day with dignity.

That’s why something as simple as offering a bottle of water, sunscreen, hygiene products, or even a conversation can make a bigger difference than most people realize.

Service isn’t measured by how much you give, it’s measured by how much you care.

Some of the most meaningful moments I’ve experienced haven’t come from handing someone a Blessing Bag. They’ve come from stopping to listen. Looking someone in the eye. Learning someone’s name. Hearing their story.

Because homelessness doesn’t define a person.

People experiencing homelessness are parents.

They’re veterans.

They’re students.

They’re workers.

They’re people with dreams, talents, families, and goals, just like anyone else.

You don’t have to start a nonprofit to make a difference.

You don’t have to donate thousands of dollars.

You don’t even have to wait until you’re an adult.

You can keep bottled water in your car.

You can pack hygiene items to give to someone in need.

You can volunteer with a local organization.

You can smile.

You can listen.

You can treat every person with dignity and respect.

Sometimes the smallest actions create the biggest impact.

As we enjoy everything summer has to offer, let’s also remember the people who are navigating this season under very different circumstances.

Compassion doesn’t take a vacation.

Neither should our willingness to care for one another.

Because when we choose kindness, empathy, and action, we don’t just change someone else’s day.

We help build the kind of community we all deserve.

Ways You Can Make a Difference This Summer

• Keep bottled water in your car to share with someone in need.
• Donate travel-size hygiene items to a local shelter or outreach organization.
• Volunteer with a community service project.
• Smile, make eye contact, and acknowledge people with dignity and respect.
• Encourage a young person to serve alongside you.

Because compassion isn’t something we practice once a year.

It’s something we choose every day.

What’s Your Pulse?

This month, ask yourself one simple question:

How will I choose compassion?

Maybe it’s carrying a few extra bottles of water in your car.

Maybe it’s volunteering at a local shelter.

Maybe it’s smiling at someone who feels invisible.

Or maybe it’s teaching a young person that every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to change someone’s day.

One act of compassion can inspire another.

One conversation can restore someone’s dignity.

One young person can influence an entire community.

That’s how real change begins.

Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity to make a difference.

Don’t Wait to Be Great. Start today.