LET’S CHANGE THE WORLD, ONE HAIRCUT AT A TIME
Our Local Barber Serves Homeless
Individuals In Fort Lauderdale, FL And Beyond
When was the last time you had a haircut? For many of us, we can get a haircut whenever we’d like. It’s different when you’re homeless. That’s where the Backpack Barber Foundation comes in. We’re a local barber that offers free haircuts for the homeless in Pompano Beach, West Palm Beach, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, FL and the South Florida tri-county area.
But we’re about more than free haircuts. We strive to elevate homeless individuals through support and conversation, with the goal of bringing hope and dignity to their lives. That means supporting all the homeless or those at-risk for homelessness, such as kids and teenagers.
WE NEED YOU - JOIN US!
We are grateful for your support and dedication to The Backpack Barber Foundation this year. We simply couldn’t do what we do without amazing people like you. Together we can continue helping!
Our Programs
Learn about our programs that are available for people who need them:
Backpack Give Program
The Backpack Barber Foundation has procured donations of personal care items, hygiene products and blankets/clothing.
Adults
Distributed weekly at community court and throughout Broward County, these backpacks are filled with supplies and items to help make living on the streets a bit easier.
Children
We fill backpacks with school supplies, snack items, and other items for homeless youth. Backpacks are distributed monthly during Jack & Jill “Cut and Read” events.
Pop-Up Chair
Our barbershop goes on the road! We meet homeless children and adults where they are, providing haircuts, compassion, and conversations. One haircut at a time, from parking lots and community centers to daycare centers and courthouses, we reach out for hands-on outreach. Items include barber chairs, tents, barbering supplies, marketing, and permits.
Housing Transition Pack
Provide a complete family transition from homelessness or temporary housing to avoid “speed bumps” and provide strength and dignity through supplies for a smooth transition. Daily Living Beds, Bedding Linens, and Kitchen & Bath Supplies.
Partnership Chair
Permanent Chair at Community Sites: In August 2019, The Backpack Barber Foundation entered into a partnership with The Jack & Jill Children’s Center, the oldest non-profit provider of early childhood education in Broward County. Starting in November 2019, Mr. Young will cut children’s hair monthly as the children read books to him and share stories.
Our Goals
Backpacks
Partnership Chairs
Pop-Up Chairs
Housing
Transition Pack
Our Landscape
Aging out of foster care
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One in five report experiencing homelessness between ages 17 and 19, and over one in four (29%) report being homeless from 19 to 21.
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One in five report being incarcerated between ages 17 and 19, as well as ages 19 and 21.
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One in 10 report becoming a parent between ages 17 and 19, while nearly one in four (23%) say they became parents between ages 19 and 21.
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Just 57% report being employed (full- or part-time) at age 21.
Who is homeless in broward county?
According to the 2021 Broward County Point-in-Time Homeless Count, there were 2,803 unsheltered individuals identified in the county. Homeless people “living” on the streets are often the hardest to provide with services.
Coordinated street outreach that identifies and engages people living in unsheltered locations, such as in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, encampments, and on the streets, plays a critical role within systems for ending homelessness.
Total number of homeless
Children under 18
Adults 18 - 24
Adults over 60
Female
Male
Veterans
Chronically homeless
Our Partners
