Over 1.3 million students experience homelessness annually, while housing costs are outpacing income growth in many regions across the U.S. Lynch School faculty members, including Rebekah Levine Coley and Earl Edwards, are addressing these urgent issues with groundbreaking research that offers evidence-based strategies for meaningful change.听
At the Faculty Research Showcase, Levine Coley and Edwards presented their research to an audience of other researchers and scholars. The event brought together faculty to explore the many ways that research can help address systemic inequalities and shape policies that overcome injustice.
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Research Highlights
Dr. Rebekah Levine Coley: Transforming Housing Policy for Vulnerable Communities
Rebekah Levine Coley, professor in the Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology Department听explained that issues like unaffordable housing, unsafe conditions, and economic segregation not only undermine housing stability but also exacerbate disparities in education and mental health. 鈥淭hese aspects of housing are detrimental; they are linked with negative outcomes, negative school success, and higher levels of behavior and mental health problems among children and families,鈥� she noted.
About Rebekah Levine Coley
Visit Rebekah Levine Coley's faculty profile to learn more about her research and work at the Lynch School.
In presenting her research on housing stability, affordability, and quality, particularly for low-income families, she drew on a framework she referred to as the 鈥�4C Model,鈥� Coley outlined the interconnected challenges of cost, conditions, consistency, and context. Coley highlighted specific policy initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges, but stressed the need for sustained funding and innovative approaches to expand their reach and effectiveness.
Coley鈥檚 research focuses on the redevelopment of a public housing project in South AV诊所 into a larger, mixed-income community. While such projects aim to reduce poverty concentration and improve housing conditions, Coley emphasizes the importance of minimizing displacement to ensure long-term benefits for residents. Her work incorporates community interviews, focus groups with college-going youth, and environmental assessments, including air quality and stress-level monitoring. These strategies allow her to evaluate how changes in housing and community dynamics impact residents鈥� health, education, and overall well-being, intending to create equitable and sustainable housing solutions.
“In our new project, one of the main goals is to understand: when you lower displacement and increase consistency, are the effects on individual residents more positive?”
Dr. Earl Edwards: Tackling Student Homelessness Through Cross-System Collaboration
Earl Edwards, assistant professor in the Educational Leadership and Higher Education Department, followed with a presentation on the urgent need for systemic approaches to address student homelessness. Beginning with an interactive activity that invited attendees to reflect on their own educational journeys, Dr. Edwards used personal anecdotes and national data to illustrate the scale of the issue.
Edwards highlighted disparities within existing policies, such as the , which he noted often fails to address the unique needs of racially marginalized students. He shared that the policy was designed without considering race, and that the omission continues to perpetuate inequities.
“We cannot solve this problem in silos. We need to build networks that connect and enhance the support networks of Black students experiencing homelessness.”
Through his research in Los Angeles County and Rhode Island, Edwards has identified systemic barriers that prevent schools and communities from effectively supporting homeless students. He introduced the concept of 鈥渞esource hopping,鈥� where students must move between communities to meet basic needs. This includes living temporarily with different family members or friends, traveling long distances to remain in their school of origin, and accessing scattered resources like food and extracurricular activities. This instability not only disrupts their education but also limits their ability to graduate and thrive.
About Earl Edwards
Visit Earl Edwards' faculty profile to learn more about his research and work at the Lynch School.
Edwards emphasized the importance of centering the voices of students in policy development and called for greater collaboration among schools, community organizations, and government agencies. 鈥淲e cannot solve this problem in silos,鈥� he asserted, 鈥淲e need to build networks that connect and enhance the support networks of Black students experiencing homelessness.鈥�
He closed by sharing his vision for systemic change, including a new coalition in Brockton, Massachusetts, that aims to create comprehensive support systems for homeless students. His has already influenced local and national policy,ensuring that the voices of marginalized students are heard.
This Faculty Research Showcase brought attention to two pressing societal challenges: housing instability and student homelessness. By fostering dialogue in a cross-departmental approach, our faculty continue to shine light on these important issues, as we advance research that drives meaningful change.
To learn more about the impactful research presented by Rebekah Levine Coley and Earl Edwards, . Dive deeper into their findings and explore how the AV诊所 College Lynch School is addressing critical societal challenges through innovative scholarship.