Pierce College should make it a priority to be of service for college students who may be homeless, as well as homeless people in the local community, even with something as straightforward as supplying hygiene kits.
Pierce is familiar with students facing homelessness, according to the school’s website. Colleges in California are in a similar predicament and should be giving more assistance to students.
“One in five California community college students, one in 10 California State University students and one in 20 University of California students are homeless,” a recent University of California, Los Angeles study found.
Hygiene kits are an effective way to help the homeless community by giving them to students and local community members and partnering with local shelters. Necessities such as hygiene kits go a long way for them and for the homeless shelters.
“These essential items serve as a great icebreaker during our outreach,” said Director of the UCLA Health Homeless Healthcare Collaborative Brian Zunner-Keating on the UCLA Health Website. “Offering a hygiene kit right off the bat goes a long way to starting a relationship.”
Hygiene kits usually consist of a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shave gel, deodorant, comb, razor, lip balm, facecloth, bandages, hand sanitizer, tissues, nail clippers, hair ties and feminine hygiene products, according to the Kit For A Cause website.
Pierce should take more action in addition to having a homeless assistant programs resource directory. They should take a more direct approach and help provide the necessities to create hygiene kits.
“We do provide pads and tampons, and also condoms for free. In the front office on a regular basis, anybody can come take them,” according to Student Health Center Director Houry Tanashian, clarifying that the SHC provides these items for Pierce students only.
Pierce can adapt what East Los Angeles College is doing and support not only students, but also community members with hygiene kits.
Students could start a club with the goal of providing for the homeless with necessities. The club could create hygiene kits and distribute them to those in need.
According to this Whittier College website, The Whittier’s Black Student Association club is dedicated to providing support for the homeless in their community.
“Their goal is to fill 150 backpacks with items that will help meet a homeless person’s basic hygiene and comfort needs,” according to Whittier College.
Providing hygiene kits to students and homeless people in the local community would be a vital step to improving the lives and health of individuals in need.