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Community Outreach

Alternative Breaks Immersion Weekends

Boston, MA, Immersion Weekend October 26-28, 2007 (FALL 2007 TRIP)

General Program Information
Issue Focus: Homelessness
Cost of Trip: $35.00
Student Trip Director(s): Andrew Wicks, Trip Director (Andrew.Wicks@uconn.edu)
Acceptance of Applications: August 24, 2007
Application Deadline: September 14, 2007 at 5:00pm
Notification of Participation: September 24, 2007
Trip Leaves: October 26, 2007
Trip Returns: October 28, 2007

** Price may vary with group fundraising projects.

The application deadline has passed.

Homelessness in Boston

More than 6,000 people in the Boston area have no place to call home. On any given night, over 850 of these men and women sleep in shelters. They come from all over the Boston metro-area, primarily from low-income communities. They are predominantly minority and they are relatively young, the average age being just 24 years old. All are poor. About half suffer serious mental illness or mental or physical disabilities and about 37% of these individuals also have substance abuse problems. Many have more minor mental, emotional or physical problems. A significant percentage (at least one-third) has been sexually or physically abused, often as children. The majority lack sufficient education and job skills. (Friends of Boston Homeless)

Trip Preparation

In preparation for this weekend students will learn about the root causes of poverty and homelessness in America. The group will meet weekly to discuss relevant readings, “do” team building exercises and service with local community groups. These once a week meetings average about an hour and a half and are mandatory for participants of this program.

Trip Description

The group will leave from the Student Union at a designated time late on Friday afternoon. From there they will drive to Boston in Community Outreach vans. The group will stay at Hostelling International in the heart of Boston http://www.bostonhostel.org/index.htm. The group will prepare and eat all of their meals at the Hostel.

The group will be participating in three different service opportunities throughout the weekend. All of the service opportunities will be centered on the issue of homelessness in Boston. Past service activities have included:

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