College connects with students and community leaders for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month

November is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month and according to Feeding America, Marion County’s rate of food insecurity is higher than the national average; while The Eviction Lab consistently ranks Indianapolis among the top 20 cities with housing instability.

To bring greater awareness to these issues, Ivy Tech Community College of Central Indiana held events throughout the month, including a community symposium open to the public on November 22 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to deepen comprehension of hunger and homelessness within the community.

More than 200 people participated in all events that took place.

During the symposium, expert panelists spoke about raising awareness within the hungry and homeless communities. Panelists included:

• Judge Brenda Roper, Center Township Small Claims Court
• Chase Haller, Housing Attorney for Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
• Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, Executive Director of the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention
• Jessica Fraser, Director of Indiana Institute for Working Families
• John Elliott, President/CEO of Gleaners Food Bank
• Kate Howe, Managing Director for Indy Hunger Network
• Monica Lunderman, Asset Manager for Mapleton Fall Creek Development Corporation
• Shellye Suttles, Ph.D. Assistant Research Scientist for Indiana University Ostrom Workshop

“Indianapolis has a big problem that has been brewing for many years. Food security and stable housing are the basic necessities one needs to live and thrive and a person can’t take full advantage of educational opportunities if they are hungry. Also, a person can’t take full advantage of employment opportunities if they don’t know where they will lay their head from night to night,” explained Stephanie Williams, lead financial and employment coach at Ivy Tech Central Indiana. “This community symposium will be an awesome moment in the history of our city as some of the best and brightest minds from various industries come together to not only discuss what they are doing from their own arenas to combat these issues; but also, how can we work together moving forward.”

If you know a student that is struggling with hunger and/or homelessness in the Central Indiana service area, direct them to the Early Resource Connections Center at IvyTech.edu/ERCC.