Beginning the end of our first season
Dear Trojan Shelter family,
As our team moves into the month of March, we are beginning the end of our very first season housing college students experiencing homelessness. Since our opening in November, we have learned so much and faced a handful of challenges. However, the more we serve and develop our programs, the greater impact we can have on our residents’ lives.
In a recent survey, the Hope Center for Community, College, and Justice found that 39% of respondents experienced food insecurity in the last 30 days, 46% of respondents experienced housing insecurity in the last year, and 17% of respondents experienced homelessness in the last year. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2019 there were 19.9 million enrolled college students. That means, around 7.8 million students experienced food insecurity in the last 30 days, 9.2 million students experienced housing insecurity in the last year, and 3.4 million students experienced homelessness in the last year. Though the survey and research from the Hope Center are not perfect and there are challenges in cross-referencing different data sets from different research and surveys, the numbers here show the potential scale of college food and housing insecurity.
However, one of the most challenging obstacles Trojan Shelter faced was intake. Though there is clear need of programs like Trojan Shelter’s, finding students to fill our beds was a challenge. When we first opened, we had two residents. It gradually rose to three, and now, we have five out of our 6 beds filled. Though it did take some time, we are glad to see our shelter at near max capacity. As we march towards the end of our first season, we are now slowing down intake and focusing on our current residents with their plans post-shelter.
Common plans for residents is finding stable living and connecting them with different resources such as CalFresh and food stamps. Ultimately, the plans we make for our residents give them the resources and tools they need to finish college with a roof over their heads and three meals a day. As undergraduate student leaders, this is something we are not fully equipped for. We are eternally grateful for the USC Homelessness Initiative and their director, Brenda Wiewel, for connecting us with a Master’s in Social Work student from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work to lead our case management at Trojan Shelter. Kimberly Burwash, a USC MSW student and Trojan Shelter’s case manager has major roles for our residents and aiding our board in interviews and deliberations for potential residents. Her experience and education provide invaluable insight and helps deepen the impact we have on our residents.
As the school year comes to an end, we also have to say goodbye to many of our graduating board members and volunteers. Already, our E-Board has selected a new group of student leaders to carry on Trojan Shelter’s mission. For a smooth transition, we created a two-month “internship program” so we can slowly accumulate our predecessors to their new roles and responsibilities. I am eager to introduce you to them as we near the end of Spring 2020.
A couple of reminders from Trojan Shelter:
Please remember to turn all your clocks back one hour for daylight savings, be sure to check your clocks that do not automatically change.
When talking about homelessness, challenge yourself to use inclusive language by saying “people experiencing homelessness”
Keep updated with our Amazon Wishlist! We are always adding more items as we learn about the needs of our space and what we think could make Trojan Shelter a home.
Donate! As we end our first season, Trojan Shelter has to strategically look forward to ensuring the sustainability and continuous development of our programs. You can find more information here!
Each month as I write these newsletters, I am always in awe to see how much Trojan Shelter has accomplished. Just two years ago, an idea started by two undergraduate students scaled to a talented team of eight board members, 50 volunteers, and a whole community of donors, partners, and advocates. We are serving five residents and making sure to see them through their college careers and follow their dreams. As we continue to move through the end of the year, I look forward to updating you all things Trojan Shelter and college homelessness.
Sincerely,
Matthew Lee, Trojan Shelter Director of Media
For more information about Trojan Shelter, go to trojanshelter.org
To help support us financially, go to trojanshelter.org/donate. Make sure to specify that your tax-deductible donation will be going to Trojan Shelter!