School of Social Work honored for work with Waco’s homeless

Baylor’s School of Social Work recently was honored with the 2008 Texas Homeless Network Outstanding Community Service Award, which annually goes to the person or group “that has helped advance policies or innovative solutions to homelessness or worked with communities to make a difference in fighting homelessness.”

The School of Social Work was recognized for its prisoner re-entry efforts and its work with the homeless in Waco. For example, more than 70 students, faculty and staff participated in the 2007 Project Homeless Connect, an event sponsored by the City of Waco’s Housing and Community Development office in which volunteers survey persons who are homeless to collect information that can be used to provide more beneficial services to this population. I love what the office’s director, Jeff Wall, had to say:

“I stood and watched with pure amazement at the professionalism and compassion Baylor’s students reflected in this critical homeless event. The homeless individuals were truly blessed by our Baylor students.”

Sic ’em, School of Social Work faculty, staff and students!