Contact Info:
hjn75801@uga.edu
404-617-1807

  Hima Nesbit
   Second Year Biochemistry and International
​      Affairs Major with a Spanish Minor

Involvement with IMPACT:    
I first heard about IMPACT through my honors seminar class, where speakers discussed 
how this amazing organization changed not only their perspective about key social issues, 
but has also allowed them to make lifelong friends. I remember when I applied the minute applications were open. Later on, however, I began to grow doubts. It would be my first experience with complete strangers, which was a little beyond my comfort zone. I remember the night before my trip, calling my mom and telling her that I can’t do it. But the next day rolled around, and I knew I couldn’t break a commitment I had made. I had the opportunity to participate in the Shelter and Resource Access trip in Charlotte, North Carolina. This trip made me break down negative stereotypes that I didn’t even know I had until I conversed with the most endearing, genuine people I have ever met. This trip allowed me to see how society turns a blind eye toward the homeless and the preventative measures that can be taken in our community to combat this issue. IMPACT started my chain reaction of yearning for experiences that are outside of my comfort zone. It allowed me to be a part of an open, accepting community that I will forever cherish.

Interest in Trip Focus:
Because the focus of my first trip was Shelter and Resource Access as well, this topic has grown close to my heart over the past year. I have always made little gestures and volunteered as frequently as I could to help those with limited resources. But IMPACT has allowed me to actually converse with those who have had personal experiences with these issues rather than helping indirectly. One of the most memorable experiences that I had while on this trip was a simulation called “Walk in my Shoes,” where volunteers were able to experience the life of a homeless individual. It surprised me the amount of hard work and perseverance one has to have in order to survive and receive the resources they need not only for themselves, but their family as well. The traumatic experiences this population faces motivated me to be more aware and advocate for long term solutions. I am so excited to help lead a trip with the same focus and understand how it is perceived in different locations.

Fun Fact:
I was arrested two years ago for speeding 112 mph in a 70 zone (not my best moment). Thankfully the mugshots aren’t public, due to being a minor at the time. I was required to do 20 hours of community service, where I met individuals that, in a way, made me glad I had to volunteer. Many of them are homeless, and their stories influenced me to strive for bigger changes (like participating in IMPACT!).

 Emily Justice
(She/her/hers) 
Third Year International Affairs and Sociology Major 
​
Involvement with IMPACT:
I didn’t find out about Impact until my sophomore year, when one of my friends encouraged me to apply. I had been looking for a sense of community at UGA, and Impact ended up being that and so much more. I went on my first trip this past spring break to Immokalee, Florida with a focus on farmworker’s justice. This trip opened my eyes to the complexity of and injustice within our food system. I not only learned about the importance of social justice within service, but I also learned so much about compassion and the strength in vulnerability from my fellow participants and our site leaders. I’m really grateful to have found a community filled with people that really care about those around them! 

Interest in Trip Focus:
I grew up in a small town in South Georgia, so I have seen first hand the limited access to resources that rural communities can face. I’m also interested in continuing to learn more about shelter and resource access, as Athens is a community highly affected by unequal access to resources and limited affordable housing. This limit to resources affects access to education, healthy and affordable food, healthcare, and many other human rights. I think it’s really important to not only learn about these complex issues in New River Valley, but to be able to bring this awareness back to the community that we are a part of as UGA students. 

Fun Fact: I hiked Mount St. Helens this summer, and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done! 

Contact Info:
elj56259@uga.edu and 706-424-3758 please feel free to reach out! 

           ​Shelter and Resource Access

• Shelter and Resource access is a broad social justice issue which encompasses access to resources that are essential to equity, including affordable housing, healthy and culturally appropriate food, education, and more. ​
• Rural areas are considered food deserts, which lack fresh, affordable foods
• 11.8% of all U.S. households were food insecure at least some time during 2017, down from 12.3% in 2016. The same report notes that the rate of food insecurity in rural areas also declined, from 15% in 2016 to 13.3% in 2017
• Almost 20% of lower income neighborhoods and family-styled homes have experienced gentrification since 2000. Atlanta, GA has a gentrification rate of 46.2%, making it one of the highest in the country
• In 2016 alone, there were 2.3 million evictions in the US
• 21.3% of the U.S. population participates in government assistance programs each month

Rural-health-care.html
https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/food-and-hunger

                    Key Terms

• Resource - a stock or supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively
• Access - freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something
• Homelessness - an individual that lacks a permanent home and/or is living under public accommodation
• Eviction - the act of expelling someone from real property either by legal action or actions which prevent the tenant from continuing in succession  
• Food security - the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
• Civil rights - the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality
• Housing - shelter, lodging; dwellings provided for people
• Gentrification - the process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste
• Redlining - refuse (a loan or insurance) to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk
• Shelter - a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger
• Discrimination - the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, espceially on the grounds of race, age, or sex
• Poverty - the state of being extremely poor
• Addiction - the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity
• Welfare - statutory procedure, social effort, and financial support designed to promote the basic physical needs and material well-being of people in need
• TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; the monthly cash assistance program for low-income families with children under the age of 18 and children who are 18 attending school full-time
• SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; previously known as the Food Stamp Program, provides vouchers to low-income households in order to purchase nutritious and low-cost foods

​            New River Valley, Virginia

• Poverty rate is 9.89%
• In 2017, there was 62.4% home ownership
• Overall poverty rate in Radford is 37.45%
• The race most likely to be in poverty is Islander, with 100% below the poverty line
• The race least likely is black, being 35.56% below poverty level
• Among those that worked full time for the past 12 months poverty rate: 2.84%

      Part-time: 61.08%
      Did not work: 46.12%

• 8.37% of the population with a Bachelor’s or greater is suffering from poverty
• The average household income is $53,559
• Veteran poverty rate: 9.74%
• Unemployment rate: 7.5%

https://datausa.io/profile/geo/new-river-va/ 
http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/radford-va-population/

​                 ​Athens, Georgia

• Poverty rate in Athens-Clarke County is 28.3%, which equates to 26,000 residents
  
• 65% of all families that live in poverty are working in Athens-Clarke County
  
• 19% of the population has not completed high school; if they all had received their diplomas $70 million would be added to the economy in the form of personal income
  
• Has the lowest percentage of owner-occupied housing units
  
• Poverty rate across GA is 16.9%, meaning Athens-Clarke County has a dramatically higher than average percentage of residents below the poverty line when compared to the rest of GA
  
• 44.8% of Hispanic residents live below the poverty line while 29.8% of white residents live under the poverty level
  
• Food insecurity rate in Athens-Clarke County was 22% in 2016
  
• Approximately 26,340 food insecure individuals
  
• The child food insecurity rate is 25%
  
• Lower income people have to choose between housing and food - a tradeoff
  

http://oneathens.org/poverty-data 
https://www.welfareinfo.org/poverty-rate/georgia/athens-clarke-county-unified-government-balance 
http://gradynewsource.uga.edu/blog/2018/10/16/food-insecurity-in-athens-is-a-bigger-issue-than-many-realize/ 

                 Serving Athens

• Athens Area Homeless Shelter - AAHS is a transitional housing program for mothers with dependent children. Volunteers from the Athens community are able to provide an evening meal for AAHS families 365 days per year Athens Area Homeless Shelter / Athens Georgiahttps://www.helpathenshomeless.org
• Hope Haven - this non-profit organization provides an environment and the resources necessary for adults in the Athens-Clarke community to be independent and self-sufficient. It strives to prepare, empower, and support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to participate fully in the community Hope Haven of Northeast Georgia, Inc. | A place for possibilitieshopehaven.net
• Food Bank of NEGA - the food bank recovers, recycles, and distributes food to human service agencies. As volunteers, we would assist with organizing the food donations and aiding with the daily operations of the food bank Food Bank of Northeast Georgiahttps://foodbanknega.org
• Athens Area Habitat for Humanity - provides strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter to neighbors-in-need in Clarke, Oconee, and Oglethorpe counties Athens Area Habitat for Humanity — Athens, GAhttps://www.athenshabitat.com
• Hands on Athens - aims to create a coalition of organizations dedicated to assisting low-income Athens Clarke County homeowners in historic neighborhoods to maintain, repair, and restore their properties as part of overall neighborhood revitalization http://www.historicathens.com/hands-on-athens 

Additional Resources and Educational Material 

• Articles
  • The ‘Hidden’ Crisis of Rural Homelessness https://www.thenation.com/article/rural-homelessness-housing/ 
  • Unsheltered and Uncounted: Rural America’s Hidden Homelessness https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/07/04/736240349/in-rural-areas-homeless-people-are-harder-to-find-and-to-help 
  • Health in Appalachia https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/08/the-early-deaths-of-appalachians/536031/ 
  • The Surprising Holes in our Knowledge of America’s Homeless Population https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/18/surprising-holes-our-knowledge-americas-homeless-population/ 
  • Opioid use in Rural America https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2018/04/30/in-rural-areas-hit-hard-by-opioids-a-new-source-of-hope 
  • How homelessness disproportionately affects LGBTQ youth ​https://www.hrc.org/blog/new-report-on-youth-homeless-affirms-that-lgbtq-youth-disproportionately-ex ​
  • Mental Health in Rural communities
    https://www.npr.org/2015/03/15/393192543/why-is-the-risk-of-youth-suicide-higher-in-rural-areas
  • Affordable Housing in Athen https://www.redandblack.com/athensnews/proposal-seeks-to-address-lack-of-affordable-housing-for-low/article_b571cc2e-5bec-11e9-909b-67ef4b13cdc4.html
• Videos 
  • ​​​Food Security in the U.S. https://youtu.be/aB6rX51ub30
  • What if Gentrification was about Healing Communities Instead of Displacing them? https://www.ted.com/talks/liz_ogbu_what_if_gentrification_was_about_healing_communities_instead_of_displacing_them?language=en 
• Books 
  • ​Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance 

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How Shelter and Resource Access Intersects with other Social Justice Issues​

• Environmental Justice: These articles talk about how socioeconomic status and race affect people’s environmental health. 
  • https://equalrightscenter.org/from-flint-to-dc-pay-attention-to-the-intersections-between-environmental-justice-and-fair-housing/
  • https://prrac.org/environmental-justice
• ​Race:African Americans constitute the largest percentage of those experiencing homelessness in the U.S. Those of lower income typically live in tenements or unstable residential centers, where they face a higher chance of eviction. As communities continue to be urbanized, these low-income residents are forced out of their homes with gentrification. However, the white population constitute a greater proportion in rural areas. Those experiencing homelessness in rural areas are most likely to be married, female, and white. There are more than 1 in 3 rural communities that suffer from a large percentage of white homelessness.
  • https://endhomelessness.org/demographic-data-project-geography/ 
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/theres-a-big-part-of-rural-america-that-everyones-ignoring/2017/03/24/d06d24d0-1010-11e7-ab07-07d9f521f6b5_story.html 
  • https://www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/rural/publications/homelessnessruralamerica.pdf ​​​
• LGBTQ+ Advocacy and Awareness:LGBT youth are more likely to face homelessness, and at a younger age than other homeless youth, due to not being accepted by family members. 
  • https://truecolorsunited.org/our-issue/
  • https://lesley.edu/article/the-cost-of-coming-out-lgbt-youth-homelessness
  • https://youth.gov/youth-topics/lgbtq-youth/homelessness 
• Education Access: 
  
  • ​https://www.stand-together.org/cycle-educational-failure/
• Disability/Ability Awareness and Advocacy: Those with disabilities face higher barriers of obtaining a job in order to receive regular income and finding a sufficient house that meets their needs. As the caregivers of adult children with disabilities continue to age, many of these individuals face homelessness. They may also need lower counters and sinks, wide doorways, and wheeled-in showers, which can be difficult to find in any housing, especially in rural areas. 
  • https://thearc.org/policy-advocacy/housing/ 
  • https://www.usich.gov/tools-for-action/homelessness-in-america-focus-on-people-with-disabilities-experiencing-chronic-homelessness/ 
  • https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/07/16/homeless-report/4153/ 
• Community Health and Wellbeing: Individuals in rural areas have increased barriers to healthcare access and may have to travel long distances in order to receive specialized treatment. There are also fewer insurance companies that offer plans in rural areas, so the premiums will be higher because of less competition. One measure of healthcare access is having a regular source of care, which is dependent on having an adequate healthcare workforce. There is currently a shortage of these workers in rural areas.
  • https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/healthcare-access 
  • https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/health-disparities-affect-millions-rural-us-communities 
  • http://med.stanford.edu/ruralhealth/health-pros/factsheets/disparities-barriers.html