Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
19-4-2018 3:30 PM
End Date
19-4-2018 4:45 PM
Keywords
gender, psychology, homelessness
Biography
The students in this group are psychology majors in my Community-Based Learning, Psychology of Women Capstone Seminar. They would like to present their final project in my course at the COLA Conference.
Major
Psychology
Advisor for this project
Dawn M. Goel
Abstract
Rates of homelessness have lowered by 5.6% in West Virginia since 2016 (U.S. Department of Housing and Development, 2017). However, it remains an issue in Cabell County with an estimated 205 sheltered, and an unknown number of unsheltered, individuals in 2015 (WV Department of Health and Human Resources, 2016). Furthermore, funding for homeless shelters is being cut nationally (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2017). In order to combat homelessness, individuals need a reliable source of income, but in West Virginia the unemployment rate is 5.1%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Additionally, individuals facing homelessness encounter difficult barriers when seeking employment. The National Coalition for the Homeless (2014) states these barriers include low educational level, limited work experience, and a lack of access to transportation and technology to complete applications or training. The current project seeks to partner with Harmony House, a local organization seeking to end homelessness in the Huntington area. Specifically, we plan to collect donations and host several events providing opportunities for resume building, job application workshops, and stress relieving exercises. These activities are designed to help attendees work toward career advancement and provide individuals with healthy outlets for stress. A binder with resume templates and interview tips will be left at Harmony House. This project will also be introduced to student organizations within the Psychology Department with the hope of the partnership between Marshall University and Harmony House being continued in the future.
Her Huntington: Helping Women in Need
Rates of homelessness have lowered by 5.6% in West Virginia since 2016 (U.S. Department of Housing and Development, 2017). However, it remains an issue in Cabell County with an estimated 205 sheltered, and an unknown number of unsheltered, individuals in 2015 (WV Department of Health and Human Resources, 2016). Furthermore, funding for homeless shelters is being cut nationally (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2017). In order to combat homelessness, individuals need a reliable source of income, but in West Virginia the unemployment rate is 5.1%. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). Additionally, individuals facing homelessness encounter difficult barriers when seeking employment. The National Coalition for the Homeless (2014) states these barriers include low educational level, limited work experience, and a lack of access to transportation and technology to complete applications or training. The current project seeks to partner with Harmony House, a local organization seeking to end homelessness in the Huntington area. Specifically, we plan to collect donations and host several events providing opportunities for resume building, job application workshops, and stress relieving exercises. These activities are designed to help attendees work toward career advancement and provide individuals with healthy outlets for stress. A binder with resume templates and interview tips will be left at Harmony House. This project will also be introduced to student organizations within the Psychology Department with the hope of the partnership between Marshall University and Harmony House being continued in the future.
