Three Rivers received a grant and increased resources for homeless students. Both The Day and the Norwich Bulletin covered this news in the articles below.

 

Three Rivers seeks to help homeless students stay in school

— By Anna Maria Della Costa, Norwich Bulletin staff writer

 

Norwich, CT (Norwich Bulletin, November 8, 2017) — With recent studies showing that up to half of community college students are housing insecure and many are homeless, Three Rivers Community College is increasing resources for those students.

Three Rivers recently received a $7,000 Melville Charitable Trust grant to help officials provide students with books, educational supplies, transportation, day care, food vouchers and medical assistance to enable them to remain in school.

Marjorie Valentin, the associate dean at Three Rivers, said she also hopes the support will help students obtain sustainable employment and break the cycle of homelessness.

“Three Rivers Community College estimates 20 students per semester are experiencing housing instability, defined as individuals formally homeless, homeless or in danger of homelessness,” Valenin said. ”… This funding will help the college’s most vulnerable population with daily living.”

The grant comes from the Employment and Educational Opportunity Fund, and provides modest, highly flexible support for essential educational expenses of homeless or formerly homeless individuals, according to a press release.

“Given the increase in homelessness,” Mary Ellen Jukoski, Three Rivers president, said, “this is important news for the college and our students.”

Three Rivers will also participate in the 2018 CT Coalition to End Homelessness Youth Count survey. Sharon Lincoln, a student support specialist, will act as the team lead for the survey and be the “point person” for homeless students on campus, officials said.

Lincoln will help connect students with the food pantry, scholarships, off campus resources and more, the release states.

Valentin said it’s the third annual Youth Count, which begins Jan. 24 and runs for a week. It will help identify homeless and unstably housed youth, many of whom never enter homeless shelters.

“TRCC will survey students and gather critical data which will enable the college to identify homeless students in need of basic living and educational supports,” Valentin said.

Where to call: If you are a student at Three Rivers Community College who needs help finding food or shelter, or if you know a student who might, call Sharon Lincoln at (860) 215-9264 to set up a consultation.

 

The original article can be found here: Three Rivers seeks to help homeless students stay in school

 

 

Three Rivers receives grant to serve homeless and at risk students

New London, CT (The Day, January 7, 2018) — Three Rivers Community College has received a $7,000 grant from the Melville Charitable Trust to offer education and employment services to students who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Recent studies show that up to half of community college students nationwide are housing insecure and 14 percent are homeless, Three Rivers officials said in a press release announcing receipt of the grant.

The grant will fund expenses related to the educational and employment goals of homeless students. In addition to the grant funding, Three Rivers is participating in the Youth Count Survey as part of the 2018 Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness and has named a point person for homelessness on campus.

“Three Rivers Community College is thankful to receive support from the Melville Charitable Trust to assist our homeless and formally homeless students,” Marjorie Valentin, associate dean of Workforce and Community Education said in the press release. “This funding will help the college’s most vulnerable population with daily living costs such as transportation, day care, food, books and shelter so they can continue their educational pathway and obtain sustainable employment.”

Three Rivers has named Sharon Lincoln, a student support specialist as the point person for homeless students on campus. Lincoln’s role is to ensure that students have access to resources that will help them be successful students. This can include connecting them with the food pantry, scholarships, off campus resources and more. Lincoln will also act as the team lead when Three Rivers participates in the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness 2018 Connecticut Youth Count.

The Youth Count will kick off its third year to help identify homeless and unstably housed youth, many of whom never enter homeless shelters. Three Rivers is collaborating with the coalition to attain a comprehensive count to understand better the scope of the magnitude, needs, and demographics of homeless youth in the state.

Any Three Rivers students needing help finding food or shelter and anyone knowing someone in that situation are asked to call Lincoln at (860) 215-9264 to set up a consultation appointment.

“Given the increase in homelessness, this is important news for the college and our students,” Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski said of the grant.

 

The original article can be found here: Three Rivers receives grant to serve homeless and at risk students