Starbucks USA is supporting homeless relief efforts in select stores.
On the 25th local time, the British Guardian reported that Starbucks in the United States is supporting homeless relief efforts with the non-profit social organization 'Breaking Ground'.
The support, which started in 2020, has had the effect of helping the private company with the social safety net and easing the burden on employees dealing with homeless people who come to the store to find a place to rest.
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Currently, Starbucks' homeless support business in the United States is operated in stores in eight cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago, all of which have relatively high or increasing rates of homelessness.
Activists assigned to each store have provided assistance to about 23,000 homeless people by providing information on the location of soup kitchens, shelters, emergency medical centers, etc., or by providing warm clothes for each situation.
A Starbucks spokesperson said, "The initiative allowed Starbucks to support the communities around its stores and help address some of the needs of its employees. It also became part of 'Homeless Solutions' with an experienced nonprofit organization."
The spokesperson added, "To date, more than 4,000 homeless people have enrolled in the 'stabilization program', which provides temporary housing, mental health care and other support through 125 Starbucks stores in the United States."
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An activist at Starbucks in New York said, "To help the homeless, you need patience, perseverance, and getting used to hearing the word 'no'."
Meanwhile, some Starbucks employees are prevented from 'in-store threats' by receiving training to calm down noise during business hours and how to administer 'Narkan', which is used as an antidote for drug addiction.
Starbucks closed 16 stores last year due to safety concerns.
(Photo = Starbucks Stories)