Backed by a $10,000 grant, two UF undergraduates are working to connect unhoused communities in Gainesville and Pensacola with essential healthcare and support services from hygiene kits and cancer screening information to bicycles and job resources.
A single-night count by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found 887 people were experiencing homelessness in North Central Florida in January, with 746 located in Alachua County. Of the total, just under half stayed in shelters.
Ava Theng, a 22-year-old UF psychology alumna, and Tara Fenelon, a 20-year-old UF health education and behavior sophomore, are launching their project, Pathways to Wellness, to help address homelessness by promoting housing security. They facilitate partnerships between non-profit organizations and UF departments to connect people experiencing homelessness with healthcare resources…