Stories

During National Public Health Week (April 6–12), the Public Health Department partnered with the Unhoused Initiative (UI) to host a care kit assembly event supporting those who are experiencing homelessness in the local community. Marlene Bennett, Program Director for the Unhoused Initiative, emphasized how it is important to support people experiencing homelessness because they are “people—our neighbors and community members—deserving of dignity, respect, health, and safety.”

With support from the UI, the department, and student volunteers, over 60 care kits were assembled. Kits included essential items tailored to current community needs such as socks, food, beverages, and first aid supplies. Additional supplies such as storage bins and hygiene products were donated to support individuals facing displacement from encampments in the area, such as the Jungle and Olinder encampments.

This event provided students with an opportunity to engage directly with Public Health in action, emphasizing community partnership, responsiveness to local needs, and the importance of addressing housing insecurity as a critical public health issue. As Bennett shared, “Incorporating Public Health students and Public Health approaches into the response to homelessness is such a logical fit,” highlighting how “Public Health’s focus on harm reduction and promoting health, safety, and wellness for the whole community” aligns with efforts to address housing insecurity. She added that students “gain first-hand experience in applying their Public Health studies to real world issues” and can better understand the complex intersections of social issues that contribute to the crisis.