PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Students at Cabrini University are helping SEPTA help the homeless population at the Norristown Transportation Center.
Since February, four Cabrini seniors, in the role of “health navigator,” have been approaching people experiencing addiction or homelessness at Norristown’s transit hub, offering to help them find food, shelter or access to other services.
The students stroll through the center every Thursday and Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
“Their primary goal is to engage the vulnerable population, to give them places of respite — while providing a wonderful educational opportunity for them to learn how the system works,” said Assistant Director for Transportation Ken Divers, who manages SEPTA’s SCOPE (safety, cleanliness, ownership, partnership and engagement) program. “Ninety-five percent of the time, the vulnerable community do not want service. So the students have to deal with that rejection.”
Related
Cabrini senior Taylor McCoy said she tries to develop a personal connection with people living at the station — “like, ‘Hey, how are you doing today? Is there anything that we can help you with? Do you have access to food? Do you have somewhere to sleep at night or is this where you sleep?’”
Senior Mike Valerio said he works to earn the trust of the people he approaches. “Having us come up to them, they kind of think that we’re almost — not attacking them — but we’re here to help. And we have to make sure they know that, so that they can open up to us a little bit,” he told KYW Newsradio.
“You don’t know their life story,” said senior Mack McKisson. “They might have been traumatized by somebody that looked like you. You never know. So I’ve learned to understand that.”
Participating in the program has helped senior Jonathan Baker gain a new perspective on life. “I’ve never really experienced anything like this, trying to help people, trying to change their lives for the better and get them the help that they need,” he said.
The work helps the Cabrini students complete a social justice project requirement for school. In turn, SEPTA gets help communicating with people who are dealing with mental health issues, said General Manager Leslie Richards. “Having a number of partners working together is really going to help us again compassionately provide services for those who truly need it and have been using our stations and our vehicles as shelter,” Richards told KYW Newsradio.
Thirteen students at Drexel University have been providing a similar service at 69th Street Transportation Center, and Richards says SEPTA is looking to expand the health navigator program to even more schools. “We would like to partner with as many people as possible, especially young students who are looking to help others.”
Related
