HPU Communication Students Host Auction for Brown County Home Soulutions

By Jordan Favors | Four strategic communication majors are working with Brown County Home Solutions to help the homeless in Brown county by raising funds and gathering volunteers. A silent auction to help raise funds for BCHS, and a forum will be held in the Doakie Day Art Center on April 21, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. This event is open to the entire community! 

 

Mackenzie Langham, senior strategic communication major, said that the event is intended to inform people and encourage them to show kindness to those struggling in our community. 

 

“The purpose of this event is to answer questions people have regarding homelessness, have people express interest in volunteering with the shelter, or to have people partake in the silent auction to help raise funds,” said Langham.

 

Jillian Goss and Ashley Pruitt are the co-directors of BCHS as of October. Goss is head of the shelter, and Pruitt is head of transitional housing.

 

“‘Homelessness’, by head definition, is classified as someone who doesn’t have anywhere to sleep, or have the economic ability to get it. Doesn’t know where they will sleep tonight or they are couch hopping, or they are sleeping in a place that is either uninhabitable or unsafe for humans,” said Goss.

 

Langham said that the event is for both students and the Brownwood community. It is important and well worth the investment of time and/or money.

 

“We are planning on having speakers there who have been a part of the transitional housing and who have lived in the shelter. These testimonies are sure to remind both students and the community why we need to reach out and help in any way we can,” added Langham.

 

Goss said that BCHS is a multifaceted program that begins with a person in a homeless state.

 

“It then brings them into a sheltered environment where there is food and hygiene and life skills. From there some will transition into our transitional housing program,” said Goss.

 

Usually, the residents can be in transitional housing for up to a year. The goal is to bring people from homelessness all the way to sustained living.

 

“We have community outreach which is people needing help with deposits to get into places to rent, or utility assistance, or they are behind on their rent and get an eviction notice, or cancellation of utilities. We do street outreach and provide sack lunch every day of the week for every one who comes to the door. And a cooling station when it gets too hot and a warming station when it gets too cold,” added Goss.

Volunteer opportunities may include but are not limited to monitoring the shelter for the evening, organizing donations, helping with administrative work, or cooking for meals.

Contact Mackie Langham via email mackenzie.langham@hputx.edu or scan the QR code for more information.

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