Homelessness and hunger are major issues facing the US today. There are currently 3.5 million homeless people in the U.S., and that number is growing. National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week is celebrated the week before Thanksgiving across the country to remind everyone, including students at the College, of this issue.

“We need to eliminate the myth that it’s someone else’s problem,” said Stephanie Visser, Interim Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at the College at the week’s kick off Nov. 16.

The College is celebrating this week with a number of events throughout campus, including a poverty simulation, movie screening, lecture series and volunteer community service. 

About 65 students, faculty, staff, community members and nonprofit organizations participated in the poverty simulation Nov. 16, which was intended to demonstrate what it would be like to live low-income in Charleston. 

“We think that we aren’t affected,” Visser said. “If it isn’t ‘me’ then it doesn’t matter, and that is a myth we want to try to get rid of.”

Freshman Shanell Ransom wanted to get involved with this cause because she has been in the same situation as many less fortunate citizens in Charleston.

“I experienced homelessness, when I was little,” Ransom said. “I want to bring awareness to campus and see how they feel about this real issue in Charleston.”

Freshman Paul Bradley Jr. said that students should learn from this and realize what money means to those who don’t have as much.

“We need to teach the lessons of what people can experience in real life and what people go through,” Bradley said. “That $20 that you hand over [to participate] is a lot more important to some people.” 

Several organizations in Charleston are involved in this awareness week, including the Lowcountry Food Bank and Crisis Ministries. In 25 years, Crisis Ministries has helped over 6,000 people get housing of their own, according to spokesman Brad Cashman. 

“It is a great event to think about in the community,” Cashman said.

Cashman said that volunteers are what make the organization successful. 

“Each day I see eyes of tired individuals who carry so much baggage,” Cashman said. “I have worked beside the brightest citizens who are volunteers.”

Cashman says those who are homeless shouldn’t give up hope. 

“People can fail many times and still be successful,” Cashman said. “Charleston developed a plan to help citizens. We all have a voice that needs to be heard.”

Helping families in need is what makes a difference, Cashman said. 

“We provide hope one family at a time,” Cashman said. “The community is active; we are coming together to make a difference.”

Newly introduced legislation is bringing the issue of homelessness to the state level 

“Three pieces of legislation related to homelessness will be introduced,” said Kim Green on behalf of Representative Wendell Gilliard. “We want to bring the legislative component to address and alleviate the issue of homelessness.” 

Green said it is important to figure out the cause of the problem before a solution is decided. 

“We have to look within each individual to determine how that person got to that point,” Green said. 

The City of Charleston is hoping to improve the issue with a strategic plan for the future of fighting poverty, said Gina Shaw-Johnson, Director of the City of Charleston department of Housing and Community Development on behalf of Mayor Joe Riley. 

Riley was originally going to deliver his annual Hunger and Homelessness Proclamation before the simulation, according to the event description of cofc.edu.  

“The mayor has been intricately involved with this issue by organizing nonprofit organizations and helping the transition of shelters to permanent housing,” Johnson said. 

“We are challenged daily to come up with a five to 10 year strategic plan maximizing every opportunity possible.”

Johnson introduced a resolution from Riley marking the week of Nov.15-21 2009 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Charleston.

“For the past several years, we have campaigned to educate the public about reasons why people are hungry and homeless,” Johnson said. “We recognize that it is a serious problem for Charleston and the nation.”

Visser said that everyone should be aware of this problem, even if it doesn’t affect them directly. 

“Everything is linked,” Visser said. “We need to think holistically about all issues and get involved.”