Free College for NYC's Homeless

Published June 12, 2009 @ 05:20AM PT

Any homeless advocate will tell you, the only solution for homelessness is housing. But at the same time, nobody wants to struggle forever to make ends meet. St. John's University and NYC Department of Homeless Services announced an exciting new partnership this week: they are giving 40 of the city's homeless a chance to earn a college degree.

Here is the story from Newsday:

St. John's University and the city's Department of Homeless Services have teamed up on a program that gives the homeless a chance to earn a college degree, with the aim that they eventually will make enough money to never need public assistance again.

Called "Advantage Academy," the program - officially unveiled Thursday at a Manhattan news conference - is providing more than 40 homeless and formerly homeless people the chance to earn associate degrees in information technology and business at St. John's Manhattan campus.

Handing out a college education to 40 individuals in New York City is not going to end homelessness. It may not even make a dent. But imagine if this idea caught on, if every college rolled out a similar plan to homeless people in their community. For some folks, such an opportunity to increase their education level (and earning potential) puts them on the path to long-term financial independence.

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Comments (5)

I've met a number of homeless people that have been attending schools, yes. But, this certainly raises some intriguing issues.

A most obvious one has to do with just how anyone can properly attend college... while living where? Homework assignments are done... where? Books and materials are kept... where?Etc.

A core question is: just where does this money come from, especially if there's not money to help actually house people, which is the more pressing, immediate problem -- whether those persons were to pursue further degrees or employment or starting their own businesses?

This might appear like perhaps too many other "programs" that fly under the generic banner of "helping the homeless" but, with just a bit of scrutiny, can reveal that they are funneling funds TO certain places... that isn't directly to homeless people nor clearly purposed with housing them. Presumably, this university receives the money... from where?

Then, with jobs (and in IT and "business" specifically) vanishing at startling rates - which is CAUSING more people to lose their homes - it's very unclear just how or when this might "solve" anything. That is, other than may be helping to solve the university's own possible financial squeezes and sound perhaps admirable at first blush.

I don't buy it, all things considered. In fact, it easily seems counterproductive as much as anything else, actually perpetuating even the recruited homeless students homelessness in the meantime. And all too many "help the homeless" programs ironicly do just that.

Posted by SlumJack Homeless on 06/12/2009 @ 11:33AM PT
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Once again... The politicians are out of touch with the real needs of the people. Bet there was some pork hidden in that budget or someone was politacal posturing for election to some seat... WOW... A whole 40 people!!! What a joke..

In addition to what SlumJack said... Just what jobs are they going to get when there are none. And there are already people with degrees living on the streets! I dont see any logical point to this.

Here in CA they cut off education for welfare moms that were suppose to help get them off welfare and they are cutting off their welfare. They cut off CAl grants for college for low income people and they cut the public school systems.

Posted by Sharon Blasingame on 06/12/2009 @ 12:50PM PT
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I've got it! Once they're enrolled as students, they can live in the dorms! That's how we're gonna end homelessness: one suite at a time!

Posted by Mark Romoser on 06/12/2009 @ 03:42PM PT
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The software ate my fake "sarcasm" tag.

Posted by Mark Romoser on 06/12/2009 @ 03:43PM PT
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Thanks for the laugh..... I really needed it...

Posted by Sharon Blasingame on 06/12/2009 @ 04:09PM PT
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Author

Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.