Homelessness continues to rise, affect college students
CSC to host homeless college student panel next Wednesday in lieu of National Homeless Awareness Month
Joce DeWitt
Issue date: 11/12/10 Section: News
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According to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, more than 3 million people experience homelessness each year, including 1.3 million children.
Statistics at the national level may seem large and inconsequential to people living in rural Corvallis, but a panel of experts focusing on local homelessness may reveal that Benton County, Corvallis and even Oregon State University homelessness numbers are higher than most think.
As homelessness is on the rise for college students nationwide, Oregon State's Community Service Center will take a deeper look at this looming issue during National Homeless Awareness Month.
The CSC will be hosting a free panel in which five participants will share their experiences with homelessness. The panel will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, in Room 216 in Covell Hall.
Several months ago, National Public Radio released a story on the distressing realities of homeless students on the Univ. Cal. - Los Angeles campus. According to NPR, "UCLA has created an Economic Crisis Response Team to try and identify financially strapped students and help keep them in school."
What was exposed during that story was the little-known fact that there are students at every major university facing hunger and homelessness, and OSU is no exception.
"People would be surprised by how many students face poverty," said Natasha Badaa, the Hunger and Poverty coordinator at the CSC, located in Snell Hall.
Homeless students include students who do not have a steady idea of where they will sleep every night, which includes students who resort to couch surfing or consistent use of the gym showers as the only means to maintain personal hygiene.
Director of Healthy Campus Initiatives Lisa Hoogesteger confirmed the growing number of desperate students.
"In terms of what have we noticed on campus, yes there are more students in need of emergency housing and basic food supplies," Hoogesteger said. "The reasons behind these needs are many: Landlord issues, cannot afford the rent, loans not coming through, part-time jobs not enough to get by on, medical care costs, family (or) relationship issues, etc."
Statistics at the national level may seem large and inconsequential to people living in rural Corvallis, but a panel of experts focusing on local homelessness may reveal that Benton County, Corvallis and even Oregon State University homelessness numbers are higher than most think.
As homelessness is on the rise for college students nationwide, Oregon State's Community Service Center will take a deeper look at this looming issue during National Homeless Awareness Month.
The CSC will be hosting a free panel in which five participants will share their experiences with homelessness. The panel will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, in Room 216 in Covell Hall.
Several months ago, National Public Radio released a story on the distressing realities of homeless students on the Univ. Cal. - Los Angeles campus. According to NPR, "UCLA has created an Economic Crisis Response Team to try and identify financially strapped students and help keep them in school."
What was exposed during that story was the little-known fact that there are students at every major university facing hunger and homelessness, and OSU is no exception.
"People would be surprised by how many students face poverty," said Natasha Badaa, the Hunger and Poverty coordinator at the CSC, located in Snell Hall.
Homeless students include students who do not have a steady idea of where they will sleep every night, which includes students who resort to couch surfing or consistent use of the gym showers as the only means to maintain personal hygiene.
Director of Healthy Campus Initiatives Lisa Hoogesteger confirmed the growing number of desperate students.
"In terms of what have we noticed on campus, yes there are more students in need of emergency housing and basic food supplies," Hoogesteger said. "The reasons behind these needs are many: Landlord issues, cannot afford the rent, loans not coming through, part-time jobs not enough to get by on, medical care costs, family (or) relationship issues, etc."
Homelessness statistics for the state of Oregon are overwhelmingly high.
"There was a reported 2,193 homeless in Portland and 17,000 in Oregon altogether," Badaa said.
Thirteen percent of Oregon's population is currently living below the poverty level.
The number of people in Benton County facing that level of financial desperation is also larger than one might expect. According to Badaa, there were a reported 101 homeless in Benton County in January.
The target audience of the "Faces of Homelessness" panel is the entire student body. The main intention of the panel is to break down the social stigma against homeless people.
"These people have stories and families," Badaa said. "Students have to be open-minded in order for there to be any change."
The discussion will be hosted by five homeless experts in the area. Three of the panelists were once homeless and are now rehabilitated and functioning members of society, including one who is an OSU student.
Sue Schultz, the meal coordinator for the Stone Soup meal site at First Christian Church in Corvallis, will also be a panelist. Stone Soup is a meal assistance program that provides a meal every day to anyone in the Corvallis community, the majority being homeless people. Schultz said the discussion has the potential to change peoples' perception of homelessness.
"I think the whole idea and image of homelessness (will change)," Schultz said. "It crosses all lifestyles. It could happen to anyone. The idea that people who are homeless are people who have no desire is not true. There is that notion: Why don't they just change, get a job, stop drinking, do what they need to do to get out of the situation? But it's a really fragile situation."
Those who attend the panel presentation can expect to see honest, open insights about living as a homeless person.
"Students can expect a lot of honesty, and it could be really emotional," Badaa said. "Panelists will be describing their experiences. We want to get people involved and change the mental state relating to poverty."
"There was a reported 2,193 homeless in Portland and 17,000 in Oregon altogether," Badaa said.
Thirteen percent of Oregon's population is currently living below the poverty level.
The number of people in Benton County facing that level of financial desperation is also larger than one might expect. According to Badaa, there were a reported 101 homeless in Benton County in January.
The target audience of the "Faces of Homelessness" panel is the entire student body. The main intention of the panel is to break down the social stigma against homeless people.
"These people have stories and families," Badaa said. "Students have to be open-minded in order for there to be any change."
The discussion will be hosted by five homeless experts in the area. Three of the panelists were once homeless and are now rehabilitated and functioning members of society, including one who is an OSU student.
Sue Schultz, the meal coordinator for the Stone Soup meal site at First Christian Church in Corvallis, will also be a panelist. Stone Soup is a meal assistance program that provides a meal every day to anyone in the Corvallis community, the majority being homeless people. Schultz said the discussion has the potential to change peoples' perception of homelessness.
"I think the whole idea and image of homelessness (will change)," Schultz said. "It crosses all lifestyles. It could happen to anyone. The idea that people who are homeless are people who have no desire is not true. There is that notion: Why don't they just change, get a job, stop drinking, do what they need to do to get out of the situation? But it's a really fragile situation."
Those who attend the panel presentation can expect to see honest, open insights about living as a homeless person.
"Students can expect a lot of honesty, and it could be really emotional," Badaa said. "Panelists will be describing their experiences. We want to get people involved and change the mental state relating to poverty."
According to Schultz, a big reason so many continue living in desperate situations is because they feel no motivation from their communities to change.
"It's so imperative that communities provide to those who have not made the decision, but would if they had the support," Schultz said.
To promote awareness and progress, Schultz said it's important for students to remember that every homeless or impoverished person has a story and a family, because being judgmental of any homeless situation only sustains ignorance.
"The more you relate, the more you connect, and the less you judge," Badaa said.
As November is National Homelessness Awareness month, the discussion is just one of the events being held by the CSC during a week of homelessness awareness activities. Other events include a clothing drive, which is a collaborated effort with University Housing and Dining Services that will be held from Monday to Nov. 22, and a Service Project with Linn Benton Food Share Nov. 20.
Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com
"It's so imperative that communities provide to those who have not made the decision, but would if they had the support," Schultz said.
To promote awareness and progress, Schultz said it's important for students to remember that every homeless or impoverished person has a story and a family, because being judgmental of any homeless situation only sustains ignorance.
"The more you relate, the more you connect, and the less you judge," Badaa said.
As November is National Homelessness Awareness month, the discussion is just one of the events being held by the CSC during a week of homelessness awareness activities. Other events include a clothing drive, which is a collaborated effort with University Housing and Dining Services that will be held from Monday to Nov. 22, and a Service Project with Linn Benton Food Share Nov. 20.
Joce DeWitt, staff writer
737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com
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