Across the region, people continue to show deep compassion for those facing homelessness. Every day, residents stop to ask how they can help, and many want to make sure their kindness leads to real, lasting change.

In a recent article, Rough Sleeping: Ways to Help, we explored why focusing our help safely and in coordination with local services is so important. This follow-up looks at one of the best ways to do that: supporting alternative giving schemes that channel generosity directly into personal, practical support.

Putting your change into action

Change into Action is a regional alternative giving campaign that encourages people to make an online donation rather than giving money to people asking for change on the streets.

Launched as a pilot in Birmingham in 2017, the scheme has since expanded to cover Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, and Walsall, each area running its own version in partnership with local authorities, charities and outreach teams. Wolverhampton has a similar initiative, Alternative Giving CIO, which shares the same purpose: to help people move safely away from street homelessness and into stable accommodation.

How it works

All donations collected throughout the year personally benefit a person sleeping rough. Trusted local charities and street outreach teams work directly with individuals to identify what could really change their circumstances. This might mean paying for ID that might have been lost to access benefits or employment, travel to key appointments or job interviews, work clothes, rent deposits, or household essentials that make a new home possible. Each contribution aims to remove a practical barrier that might otherwise keep someone trapped in crisis.

Funds are never handed out as cash. Each purchase is made on behalf of the person, ensuring support is both practical and safe. It is a simple model, but one that has transformed hundreds of lives across the region.

Local impact, shared purpose

In Birmingham, Change into Action has helped over 550 people rebuild their lives in small but powerful ways. When Suzie moved into her own accommodation after a long period of homelessness, she found herself struggling with anxiety and isolation. Her support worker applied to Change into Action for help to buy a TV and cover her TV licence, offering comfort and connection during a difficult transition.

If Suzie hadn’t been able to apply for funding from Change into Action, her support worker said, “it is likely she would have returned to rough sleeping or experienced a decline in her mental wellbeing.” As a result, Suzie remains in her home, continuing to build confidence and stability.

“If Suzie hadn’t received this support,” her worker said, “it is likely she would have returned to rough sleeping or experienced a worrying decline in her mental wellbeing.” Four months later, Suzie remains in her home, continuing to build confidence and stability.

In Wolverhampton, Alternative Giving CIO has also shown how public donations can strengthen the city’s safety net. In September, the scheme distributed £25,000 across six local charities and community organisations to ease pressures brought by the rising cost of living. This funding is helping people on the brink of homelessness or rebuilding their lives after crisis.

Alternative Giving in Wolverhampton

Alternative Giving CIO has raised more than £74,000 for local organisations. Donations come through 16 city centre donation points and two “Tap to Donate” terminals near the bus and train stations – offering residents and visitors a simple way to give safely.

These activities reflect a wider regional effort to turn compassion into coordinated support. Behind every donation sits a network of professionals and volunteers, witha shared approach that focuses on prevention, recovery, and long-term independence.

A clear route to help someone in need

Many people feel unsure about how best to help someone they see sleeping rough. Giving cash or items directly can sometimes do unintended harm or interrupt the support already in place. Alternative giving schemes offer a way to act with both compassion and confidence, ensuring that donations contribute to a coordinated effort which protects people’s safety and wellbeing, while helping them take real steps forward.

There are also times when someone might be approached in the street by a person asking for money, and it is not always clear whether that person is experiencing homelessness or what their situation might be. Giving through Change into Action or Alternative Giving CIO offers a safe and thoughtful alternative, a way to respond with confidence, knowing that your donation will reach someone with a genuine housing need through trusted local services.

How to get involved

You can choose to give through the schemes active in your local area:

• Change into Action: www.changeintoaction.org.uk
• Alternative Giving CIO: www.wolverhamptonchange.co.uk

Both sites share how funds are used and tell the stories of people who have been supported. You can make a one-off donation, set up regular giving, or share the link with friends and colleagues who want to help responsibly.

For anyone wishing to take their involvement further, Street Support West Midlands offers information on volunteering, local services, and items currently needed by trusted charities. By connecting your time and resources through these networks, every action you take adds strength to a regional system designed to prevent and end homelessness.