As an extension of its Housing Matters campaign, the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recently launched the Student Activation Project at universities across the county in an effort to reach a younger audience.
The goal of the Student Activation Project, and of the larger Housing Matters campaign, is to combat the stigma often associated with homelessness by educating college students about the link between mental illness and people ending up on the street.
“College students who take part in this project will have the opportunity to work on a very important social issue,” said Chairman Ron Roberts, County Board of Supervisors. “I look forward to them raising awareness among their peers about the stigma associated with mental illness, which can often be an obstacle for seeking help.”
The Student Activation Project takes a multi-pronged approach in reaching the collegiate audience. One aspect of the project includes presentations to college courses by transitional age youths (TAYs) who recount their personal stories and invite passionate students to get more involved, the goal being to generate a peer-based, ripple effect.
“Getting youth involved in this cause is essential to the campaign and to making progress in the community,” said HHSA Director Nick Macchione. “We’re eager to see how students respond and look forward to hearing their perspective.”
HHSA also has partnered with San Diego State University (SDSU) and its Principals of Public Relations course to have students create strategic public relations plans that target SDSU students. Students will present their completed plans at the end of the semester with a possibility that HHSA may implement their ideas in the future.
For more information about Housing Matters, please visit www.HousingMattersSD.org.
