Understanding Homelessness Through Service - USC Joint Educational Project
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USC Joint Educational Project
Understanding Homelessness Through Service
In 2015, the newly appointed USC Provost, Michael Quick, sent an email to the entire USC community. His letter outlined what he calls “wicked problems” -- problems that seem to have no easy solution; solutions that often cause more problems than they hope to solve. One of the “wicked problems” identified by Quick was homelessness in Los Angeles and around the USC community. This spurred an initiative for USC to help end homelessness.
JEP is trying to do our part to be involved in this university wide initiative. Understanding Homelessness Through Service gives USC students a chance to unpack some of the problems faced by people experiencing homelessness and learn more about many of the Los Angeles organizations that are trying to tackle homelessness.
Applications to sign up are accepted the first two weeks of the semester. A travel incentive can be provided after a special application (more information will be released soon) but is not guaranteed.
Partner Sites
Chrysalis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a pathway to self- sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the resources and support needed to find and retain employment. You will be helping clients build resumes and do practice interviews. Must be proficient in Word and have strong interpersonal skills. You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer with this site.
“Founded in 1914, the Midnight Mission has been offering a path to self-sufficiency to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness since 1914. As a comprehensive homeless shelter and homeless services provider serving the Los Angeles homeless community, we take an approach that fuses care and compassion with meaningful accountability, providing the structure and the resources that people experiencing homelessness need to truly improve their lives. We believe that everyone deserves to live with dignity no matter what they’ve been through, and our multi-faceted approach to homeless services helps our community members make the changes that last.
The Midnight Mission is dedicated to helping those most in need in our community. But we offer more than a homeless shelter: we offer a net of resources and support services that help our guests and program participants get back on their feet and into productive lives.”
Text from https://www.midnightmission.org/
The Union Rescue Mission (URM) is a private Christian homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles’s Skid Row area. It is the largest private homeless shelter in the United States. Founded in 1891, it provides emergency and long-term services including food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling, and job training.
Students will be participating with the Mondays at the Mission program. This is the only homeless youth, age 10 to 18, program of its kind started in 2010. The program offers weekly career and life skill classes, guest speakers, special events, and mentor opportunities. Students will be volunteering as a tutor/mentor, with the opportunity available to teach a class or be a guest speaker. Mondays at the Mission has helped 1,000+ students stay in school, identify their gifts and talents, and learn positive goal setting techniques. It is a career and life skills program for youth experiencing homelessness living at the largest shelter on Skid Row, located in downtown Los Angeles.
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