Dr. Melinda Duke’s Senior
Psychology class was devoted to aiding a local non-profit, Appalachian
Regional Coalition for Homelessness (ARCH), in their Point in Time
homelessness count. Over a 24 hour period (Nov 16-17, 2005), volunteers
in 8 counties count the number of homeless at service providers
(shelters, soup-kitchens, etc) as well as at camps and street
locations.
Using a Community
Based Research
approach, students in Dr. Duke’s course met with ARCH members to
discuss their needs as well as attended ARCH meetings to discuss
methodology and planning. They incorporated GPS technology for the
street and camp count. At the end of the course and the count, students
prepared a presentation for ARCH to display their findings and results.
Full color 11x17 maps were also presented to ARCH members to include in
their analysis and grant applications. Contact Dr. Duke.
