How to help friend

[Hairytangerine]

My friend is currently homeless, due to shortages of hostels she is being put up in hotels. She has a one year old baby and it’s a nightmare with no access to washing facilities, microwave etc.

I’m on a budget myself and have three kids and work full time. So I’m strapped for time and cash but desperately want to help her.

Any thoughts?

Can you take her some home cooked food every couple of days? Soup, curry, bolognaise, etc. in a wide-mouthed thermos? Do some laundry for her?

*bolognese

Invite her round for a cuppa and chat.
Have her over for food.
Invite her and the baby out for walks.
Do some washing for her.

Basically she is going to be feeling isolated, bored, and frustrated at not having space.

Brill idea about laundry and yes I’ll buy a thermos flask

Invite her over for lunch/dinner or both and tell her to bring her laundry!

How sad for her. She'll be presumably having to use a laundrette which must be grim with a 1 year old in tow so I'd definitely say offer a weekly use of yours. If you are strapped she could pay and at least use her own powder etc but have your company and help with cuddling the baby. If you could throw in a home cooked meal whilst she is there it could be a lovely evening & you could frame it like that.

I'm guessing her pride could have taken a real battering so you could soften it by perhaps asking if she could babysit whilst you do x and she do her laundry.

Also do you have anything like a slow cooker or microwave you could lend that she could sneak into the room? I'm assuming she had no cooking facilities which would get costly.

Above all I think just that you care probalay means the world too her and getting her out of the 4 walls of the hotel regularly would be great of you.