The Collegiate Homeless Healthcare Initiative’s (CH2I) goal is twofold. The first goal is to make college students aware of the healthcare needs of millions of homeless people. Some students devote many hours volunteering in hospitals outside of which these homeless people take shelter, but do not recognize the disparities. They may have incorrect beliefs that all homeless people have the ability to better their own situation but are not willing to put in the work. CH2I plans to eliminate these beliefs and advocate the need for volunteers to help people who cannot afford a doctor’s visit. It is true that students in urban areas may recognize the contrast between the healthcare of those who are homeless and not, but they do not take initiative to combat that. Instead, they find it easier to volunteer in a well established top tier hospital. CH2I’s second goal is thus to promote college groups to take action by spreading medical awareness and teaching preventative healthcare to the homeless.

Currently, CH2I’s focus is in Philadelphia as there is an abundance of homeless people there due to the nature of it being a city. In Philadelphia organizations that are dedicated to bringing the homeless off of the streets do exist. Two organizations, the Public Health Management Corporation and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, even have programs focused on homeless healthcare. However, that comes to a grand total of only two programs with limited hands to help in the big city of Philadelphia. It thus becomes crucial for more people to help; it becomes crucial for college students to help. CH2I’s goals of bringing awareness and enforcing action amongst college students however are not limited to Philadelphia.

If you are a college student outside of Philadelphia and want to learn more about bringing CH2I to your school, click here.