Thought Leadership - hypothetical case of Walmart and National Alliance to end homelessness

A thought leader, or influencer, is someone who, based on their expertise and perspective in industry, offers unique guidance, inspires innovation and influences others.

About 140 million people shop with Walmart either online or in their physical appearance. With an approximate population of people in the United States at 324 million then we can conclude that Walmart is the number one shopping destination in the country. To some people in the US, Walmart is not just a supermarket but a home. Walmart parking space is legal for people to park and sleep overnight in their RV’s or cars. Road travellers also take advantage of this opportunity.
Although it is difficult to estimate the number of homeless people in the country.

But according to the National Alliance to end homelessness, Seventeen out of every 10,000 people in the United States were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2019. Moreso, the Council OF Economic Advisers published on the state of homelessness on America in September 2019 that over half a million people experience homelessness on a single night in the USA.

Yet, the actual number of people experiencing homelessness per night is suspected to be higher. Since the pandemic hit, people have been out of jobs while others are facing possible evictions. The pandemic is a threat to the health of the people but it has gone further to impact the livelihood of people around the world which is also at risk. As such, people in the USA has suffered eviction and homeless from lack of income.
As the leading retail chain in the United States of America with a total of 4,756 stores as of January 31, 2020. Walmart could partner with the National Alliance to End Homelessness in the country. Already, they allow car owners to park overnight and sleep without adding any cost which shows a promising step of Walmart towards solving the issue of people having nowhere to sleep. It is also safe as they have securities to protect the facilities and cars of the homeless.
Walmart allows free overnight camping at their parking lot and it is absolutely free. Walmart is home to many that need a place to spend the night. Yet they can offer more to their communities through a partnership with National Alliance to End Homelessness. People are still anti-homeless in the US and Walmart parking lot has been a safe haven.

The partnership will improve both brands and would promote community building. To encourage people and change their perspective about homeless people. Push and lobby for the enforcement of the Fair Housing Act Of 1968. So far the only beneficiary of this act is the homeless individual but not necessarily the homeless population.
Walmart and Walmart foundation can add the homeless population to their philanthropy priorities. The homeless in their community should have the opportunity to access their grant. They can achieve the right data with the effort of the National Alliance to End Homelessness while coming up with fair guidelines for the homeless people to apply for grants which would provide opportunities to have access to a home.

This is in line with Walmart’s mission to create opportunity, so people can live better. The issue of homelessness is an economic challenge. The National Alliance to End Homelessness wants to ensure people are no longer homeless by doing research and proffering solutions which are pushed to the government to enact favourable policies. With Walmart, they would have additional options to take people off the streets to have a place to live.
Food and shelter are one of the basic needs of life. The homeless needs shelter and food to eat. According to the World Bank Report, daily waste will climb to 6 million tons per day by 2025. Walmart has a program of donating edible foods not purchased by customers to people and places that needs those most. The food is picked up by agencies and food backs that distribute them freely to people who can’t afford food.

Walmart uses the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s food recovery hierarchy to find food waste in their stores. Walmart waste reduction program ensures nothing goes to waste including those food items that may need recycling.
However, with a partnership with the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Walmart would be set to feed the homeless and also provide shelters for them. Both organisations would be doing a greater good to the community and also improving cultural somatic and cultural wealth-building gradually.

Through all their stores across the nation, Walmart in partnership with National Alliance to End Homelessness may be on their way to reduce and end homelessness in the United stated by 2050. More homeless people would sign up to benefit in the program and by such accurate data on the homeless would be available which would be solid enough to drive a compelling argument to enact policies.
Walmart’s aim to Creating opportunity. Advancing sustainability and strengthening community would be achieved and it would create a ripple effect where other mega-corporations will develop similar programs. The result would be a better community with few or no homeless people.