Jarred Walker – Staff Writer
One of the most unfortunate and visible problems Daytona Beach has dealt with for years is the amount of homeless people in need.
At last estimate, there are some 700 homeless people in Volusia and Flagler counties. Last May, the Volusia/Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless reported that number during its annual homeless count. It represents a 10 percent drop in local homelessness, compared to 2016. But it is a whopping 70 percent decrease from the 2,384 people living on area streets in 2012.
But for those who experience homelessness, and those who have dedicated their lives to ending it, even one homeless person is too much in the richest country on Earth.
Regardless of the numbers, when turning onto Interstate 95 from International Speedway Boulevard or sitting at the intersection of Clyde Morris and Beville, the homeless are ever-present, occupying the area and asking for spare change or food.
At Daytona State College, the homeless can sometimes be seen crossing through the campus or attending activities where food and other give-aways are present. DSC prides itself on is its accommodation services and open-arms policy for the homeless and others in need. In recent years, the College has been at the forefront of battling this persistent problem and it is making progress, thanks to caring staff, faculty and students.
There are an estimated 100 homeless students, or about 15 percent of the area’s total population, attending the College each semester. As such, they have access to food, clothing, shelter vouchers and tuition waivers. In addition, professors, faculty and students are lending a helping hand in a variety of ways.
One of the main programs giving back is the cosmetology department, led by chair of cosmetology and barbering, Dee Gay. She’s made “service learning” part of the cosmetology curriculum by incorporating community service into the training of students.
“I’ve always worked closely with the Center for Women and Men, so I spoke with the director, Erin LeDuc, and told her that any time she has a homeless student that needs their hair done, just call me and we’ll give them a free cut,” she said, adding, “especially if they’re going in for a job interview. Myself and two other faculty members were also mentors for the homeless.”
That was the beginning of her department’s involvement in the evolution of homeless services on campus. In the past five years, the cause has ballooned into a movement. While haircuts for the homeless are ongoing on a confidential referral basis, the department also features such free events during major campus celebrations such as the annual fall Homecoming.
“It grew to the point that we started going to the homeless shelter, Hope Place, on a frequent basis and giving free haircuts there as well. The second time we went, we brought nine students and three instructors and cut hair for six hours straight until we got everybody done,” Gay recalled. “We also go to the Picnic Project in Sanford on Sundays and cut hair for four hours. It’s all about paying it forward and giving it back. They are extremely appreciative.”
Hye Jin “Jinie” Morris, a former DSC cosmetology student and current stylist at Great Clips, expressed how outstanding her experience was with the program.
“It was amazing. I even got a job before graduating and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get a cosmetology license,” she said.
She also shared her thoughts on the positivity between the homeless and cosmetology worlds colliding: “I’ve definitely seen a lot of homeless people in the Daytona area, sadly. I’m really glad that we can share our skills to make the world a better place and to make people feel better and happier about themselves.”
Frank Gunshanan, Senior Professor of English, explaining how all of this at DSC is a team effort, said, “There are a bunch of us. I am working with the Student Hunger Homelessness Committee on campus, which offer a bunch of services such as food, clothes, access to child care and textbook loans. We have definitely concentrated on homelessness in the last five years. I wish we could offer even more services. We’re trying to tackle everything and getting better and better at it.”
For more information on all of these services and more, check out https://www.daytonastate.edu/centerforwomenandmen/index.html.