Alliance for the Homeless
With poverty on the rise, Meir Panim has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in Jerusalem.
As a leading organization dedicated to providing to all that are in need, our Alliance for the Homeless project was created in response to the growing issue, providing home-cooked meals, with our signature warm greetings, directly to homeless people in the area.
the Problem
Since 2020, the poverty rate in Israel has almost doubled. Now, 27.8% of the population, a whopping 2.6 million Israelis, live below the poverty line. This has led to an increase in people experiencing homelessness, especially in the Jerusalem area.
our Solution
Situated in the heart of the city, Meir Panim’s Jerusalem branch recognized the growing problem and launched this initiative to address the wider needs of those in need. Twice a week, volunteers come to Meir Panim after hours to pick up meals that were cooked and prepared earlier in the day for distribution to homeless people in the area.
MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM:
How we are making a difference
Within a small radius of our branch, there are 60-80 homeless individuals. Before 2020, we didn’t see this unfortunate and humbling phenomenon at such high rates, and are committed to providing a helping hand to those in need and showing them that we care about their well-being.
With the help of dedicated volunteers who come to Meir Panim after hours, we are providing meals two nights a week to those on the streets. Our staff prepares additional meals and re-opens the branch in the evening, after our traditional hours, to hand them off to the volunteers who come to distribute them. With grocery carts and heated blankets to keep the food warm along the way, our young adult volunteers provide so much more than meals, including resources on local shelters, welfare, and government assistance options, and of course, a standing invitation to dine in at our Restaurant Style Soup Kitchen during our daily hours.
