Volunteered for two years with a college student-run clinic that provided weekly services and advocacy for the homeless. Worked with social workers, doctors, med students, chiropractors, secured food and drink donations from local places like bagel shops, clothing drives, etc. Interacted with teenagers (often kids who got kicked out of their families due to LGBTQ+) to the elderly. We had a program called “A Day in the Life” in which one homeless person who was close with the clinic let a student shadow him. We ran a 0.5 credit class with the university discussing topics around homelessness and making efforts to effect change, but also a little self defense and de-escalation tactics.

Experience was overwhelmingly positive, with some bumps-in-the-road that were opportunities for growth. It opened my eyes from the bubble of suburban life that I grew up with. There’s no easy solution to homelessness. It’s complex af.