Forty people living in Tent City 3 (TC3) wrapped up their three-month stay at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø at the end of winter quarter. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever, hosting TC3 fit the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s public-service mission.
While many interactions with TC3 took place virtually this year, careful planning and precautions made it possible for residents to partner with the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø on in-person clinical, academic and service-learning programs, while protecting the health of everyone involved:
- School of Nursing students and faculty, as well as staff, collaborated with (UDSM) to hold multiple during the quarter. At these clinics, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø students and residents got to know each other, and students learned how to evaluate and care for feet. The UDSM medical van joined later clinics, in case TC3 members had additional health concerns.
- The visited several times, providing health check-ups for beloved pets and access to preventative health care for their owners.
- TC3 and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø also built community during a student-led focus group, potlucks, donation deliveries and on move-in/move-out days. Students also helped residents applying for important services like health care, insurance and food stamps.
As was the case during TC3’s stay in 2017, students from the School of Public Health’s Community-Oriented Public Health Practice Program conducted a program evaluation of the residency.
Behind the scenes, a community advisory committee met weekly throughout the stay to share updates, discuss upcoming activities and address any issues that needed attention. Committee members included TC3 residents, SHARE/WHEEL staff, and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø staff, faculty and students. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s Office of Regional & Community Relations coordinated the meetings, which were also open to nearby local businesses.
Residents and student, staff, and faculty volunteers made quick work of the March move-out and transition to TC3’s next site in the parking lot of University Congregational United Church of Christ on 15th Ave NE.
Huge thanks to TC3 residents, SHARE/WHEEL staff, Tent City Collective, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Facilities, College of the Environment, School of Nursing, Center for One Health Research, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø MEDEX Northwest, Doorway Project, Office of the President, UMAC, and the Community Engagement & Leadership Education Center for all their efforts to prepare for and successfully host Tent City 3 in 2021.