Background

 People experiencing homelessness are sometimes on the receiving end of kindness from the general public. Various attempts have been made to research the most effective methods to provide aid and to promote the public’s willingness to help (Bartsch & Kloß, 2019; Gross & Wronski, 2021; Schreiter et al.z, 2021). While these are important research topics, the other side of the coin, individuals experiencing homelessness helping others, has been vastly under-researched. While altruism is performed to benefit others, it can also positively impact the performer (Feng & Guo, 2017; Lu et al., 2021).

Aims

 This perspective warrants investigation not only due to the gap in research but to assess further how the well-being of homeless individuals is promoted in their own right.

Method

 Using individual interviews with people who were homeless (N =118), this study assessed the types of selfless acts the homeless population engages in to further the well-being of others and how commonly they are enacted. 

Results

  Listening to others’ problems was found to be the most frequently initiated (M = 4.74, SD = 1.63) while working as a volunteer was the least common (M = 2.61, SD = 2.07). The desire to engage in prosocial behaviour was especially high, with participants reporting frequent experiences of wishing to do something good (M = 5.05, SD = 1.98) and wishing to be of help (M = 4.75, SD = 2.05).It should be noted that very high variance was seen in the frequency of these prosocial acts, suggesting that some in the population do not feel ready for this type of activity, which in some ways fits well with Maslow’s hierarchy. Others, however, even amidst their great need for safety and security, nonetheless engage in significant prosocial acts. 

Conclusion

 The findings suggest that a significant proportion of the homeless population engages in prosocial behaviours to improve the well-being of those around them and long to impact others positively.