College campus hosting a homeless encampment, fostering understanding and social change.

From Stigma to Understanding: How College Campuses Can Lead the Way in Homelessness Solutions

Samir D’Costa in Culture & Society June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how Seattle Pacific University's innovative approach to hosting a homeless encampment transformed student perceptions and fostered real social change."

In December 2014, Seattle Pacific University (SPU) took a remarkable step by hosting a tent city on its main lawn. This wasn't just an act of charity; it was a deliberate effort to engage with the growing issue of homelessness in Seattle and King County. With the region facing a rising number of individuals without shelter, SPU sought to create a learning environment that challenged preconceptions and fostered genuine understanding.

The decision to host a homeless encampment wasn't without its challenges. Initial reactions from the university community revealed prevalent negative stereotypes about people experiencing homelessness. Concerns about safety, crime, and potential disruptions were voiced by students, parents, and local residents. These concerns highlighted the urgent need to address misinformation and cultivate empathy.

However, SPU recognized that homelessness is a complex social problem rooted in systemic issues like job loss, inadequate healthcare, domestic violence, and the high cost of housing. By hosting the tent city, the university aimed to dismantle harmful stereotypes, facilitate conversations about the root causes of homelessness, and empower students to become agents of change.

Transforming Perceptions Through Education and Engagement

College campus hosting a homeless encampment, fostering understanding and social change.

SPU strategically integrated the tent city into its curriculum and campus life. University leaders collaborated with tent city organizers to offer a range of educational programs, including tours led by residents, film screenings, and public forums. These initiatives provided opportunities for students to interact directly with individuals experiencing homelessness, hear their stories, and challenge their own biases.

A key component of this initiative was a course specifically designed to prepare students for engagement with tent city residents. This course combined theoretical learning about homelessness with practical skills in research methods and ethical communication. Students learned how to conduct respectful interviews, collect field observations, and analyze the social and economic factors contributing to homelessness.

Breaking Down Stereotypes: Direct interaction with tent city residents shattered preconceived notions and fostered empathy.
Real-World Learning: Students gained valuable experience in research, community engagement, and social problem-solving.
Empowering Action: The experience inspired students to become advocates for the homeless population, participating in protests and city council meetings.

The impact of this immersive experience extended beyond the classroom. Students reported that their conversations with friends, family members, and coworkers changed, as they shared their newfound understanding of homelessness and challenged negative stereotypes. The project also inspired broader community engagement, with one student's father initiating efforts to address homelessness within his own business.

From Charity to Systemic Change: A Call to Action

While the SPU tent city initiative provided immediate support and fostered empathy, it also highlighted the need for long-term solutions. As one tent city resident aptly stated, "The first time you host it is charity, the second time is to break down stereotypes, and the third time is for social change."

True change requires moving beyond acts of charity towards addressing the root causes of homelessness. This involves advocating for policies that promote affordable housing, expand access to healthcare, and create economic opportunities for vulnerable populations. It also requires challenging the stigma and discrimination that perpetuate homelessness.

Seattle Pacific University's experience offers a powerful model for other educational institutions seeking to engage with complex social issues. By integrating real-world experiences with rigorous academic study, universities can empower students to become informed, compassionate, and effective agents of change. The journey from charity to genuine social transformation begins with understanding, empathy, and a commitment to systemic solutions.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/1536504216648162, Alternate LINK

Title: From Charity To Change

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Contexts

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Jennifer Mckinney, Karen Snedker

Published: 2016-05-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly did Seattle Pacific University (SPU) do to address the issue of homelessness?

Seattle Pacific University (SPU) hosted a homeless encampment in December 2014 on its main lawn to address the rising homelessness issue in Seattle and King County. This was a deliberate act to create a learning environment that challenged negative stereotypes and fostered understanding of the complex social problem. The initiative aimed to facilitate conversations about the root causes of homelessness and empower students to become agents of change.

How did Seattle Pacific University (SPU) integrate the homeless encampment into its educational programs?

The presence of the homeless encampment allowed Seattle Pacific University (SPU) to integrate the initiative into its curriculum. This included offering educational programs like tours led by residents of the encampment, film screenings, and public forums. These activities provided opportunities for students to directly interact with individuals experiencing homelessness, hear their stories, and examine their own biases. Moreover, a course was designed to prepare students for engagement with tent city residents, teaching them about homelessness, research methods, and ethical communication.

What were some of the effects of the homeless encampment project on the students and community?

The project's impact extended beyond the classroom, transforming the conversations students had with their friends, family, and coworkers. By sharing their experiences and understanding of homelessness, students were able to challenge negative stereotypes and broaden community engagement. The project encouraged broader community engagement and demonstrated the importance of breaking down stereotypes and fostering empathy towards people experiencing homelessness. This real-world experience led to inspired action like one student's father initiating efforts to address homelessness within his own business.

What were some of the initial concerns regarding the homeless encampment project at Seattle Pacific University (SPU)?

Initially, the university community, including students, parents, and local residents, expressed concerns about safety, crime, and potential disruptions. These concerns reflected prevalent negative stereotypes. Seattle Pacific University (SPU) recognized that homelessness is a complex social problem rooted in issues such as job loss, inadequate healthcare, domestic violence, and the high cost of housing. SPU's decision to host the tent city helped address these concerns by creating a platform to address misinformation and promote empathy through direct interaction and education.

What were the long-term goals and implications of Seattle Pacific University's (SPU) initiative?

Hosting a homeless encampment by Seattle Pacific University (SPU) provided immediate support and empathy, it also highlighted the need for long-term solutions. It was about moving from charity to systemic change by engaging with the root causes of homelessness. As stated by a tent city resident, it was about moving beyond charity. This effort also inspired students to become advocates and participate in protests and city council meetings. This signifies the implications of taking action to create social change.