Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is a nationally recognized program that ensures access to health care for people experiencing homelessness, providing physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and mental health specialists. Working with the Stephen D. London Center for Community Engagement and Social Justice, BHCHP has provided volunteer opportunities for Simmons students over the last decade. As volunteers, Simmons students have the opportunity to learn about how to support those experiencing homelessness in the community.
In April, the London Center gave a special recognition to BHCHP, and to Dan Maloney, BHCHP's Manager of Service programs, who has been an innovative partner for the past five years. Maloney was praised for his willingness to consider new avenues for partnership, his work with Simmons students and faculty, and the resources and training he provides student volunteers.
Service learning projects with the BHCHP have included health promotion activities at the Barbara McInnis House, a medical respite facility where patients experiencing homelessness can recover from short-term injuries and illnesses. Physical therapy students have volunteered to offer hand massages to patients. BCHCP has coordinated warm clothing drives and bake sales to benefit patients in the McInnis House, with the London Center and Simmons student groups.
"Whether they come to us as volunteers, interns, AmeriCorps Members, or come aboard as staff after they graduate, Simmons students have given so much to our patients, our staff and our community as a whole," says Dan Maloney. "We are grateful for everything Simmons and the students have done for us."
Meghan Doran, Director of the London Center, looks forward to further explorations on this year's themes. "This year, the London Center's theme was leadership and social justice, especially in response to housing insecurities and the homelessness crisis in this country." As a part of this initiative, faculty, staff, undergraduate, and graduate students read and discussed Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder, which details the founding of BHCHP.
"The idea of the initiative is to spend time as a community, learning about a social justice issue," says Doran. "The housing crisis touches on so many different areas — social work, nursing, public health, and others." Earlier this year, the London Center held a virtual panel with Jo-Anna Rorie (Boston Medical Center); Connor Schoen (Breaktime); Luc Schuster, (Boston Indicator); and Kelly Turley (Mass Coalition for the Homeless) to discuss their work to address the housing and homelessness crisis in Boston, to explore the root of the problem, and to discuss how the Simmons community can contribute to a solution. There are plans for continued programming in the fall.
Gary Bailey, MSW Program Director and London Faculty Fellow, feels that the focus on the homeless crisis, along with the lack of affordable housing, is among the most important issues of the day. "It makes sense that the entire Simmons community would have this as a focus," says Bailey. "There is such an important role that an institution like Simmons can play in this important issue, especially since women and children are disproportionately negatively impacted by the housing crisis."
"We need to ask ourselves, How do we train students to work with this population?" says Doran. "What do we do as a University around this social justice issue? We're working to figure out the answer."
For more information, visit The London Center's Guide to the Housing Crisis and Housing Insecurity.