When you’re preparing to perform street outreach, make sure you dress comfortably. It’s best to lean toward casual clothing like t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers that you won’t mind getting a little dirty. Also, make sure you’re dressed for the weather. If it’s cool in the morning but warming up later, wear layers that are easy to reduce but not hard to carry. You’re most likely going to be doing a lot of walking, so choosing the right shoes can make all the difference when it comes to your comfort and enjoyment while doing outreach. 

Dressing comfortably also serves another important purpose of making you look welcoming and non-threatening to the person you’re approaching. If you’re doing outreach before or after work that’s great—but uniforms can trigger anxiety from people experiencing homelessness, so removing your tie and suit jacket can help. You want to do everything you can to start the interaction in a way that makes people feel safe.

– Dress casually and comfortably (esp. shoes)

– Don’t be afraid to get dirty

– Remember to smile