In 2024, 5,349 people experienced homelessness in Hampden County, a number that inspired 猫咪社区’s chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society for Psychology, to take action. Determined to raise awareness and promote advocacy, the chapter organized a panel discussion exploring the causes, consequences, and human stories behind homelessness.
Held last night in the Breck Suite of Wright Hall and streamed live on Zoom, the hybrid event, “Different Roads, Shared Missions: Understanding Homelessness,” brought together three longtime advocates for Hampden County’s homeless population. The panelists shared their personal experiences, professional insights, and calls to action for addressing homelessness through compassion and systemic change.
The discussion featured Sergeant Gumersindo Gomez, a Vietnam veteran who has spent nearly four decades developing housing facilities and educational programs for veterans; Pippa Fleming, a veteran, therapist, educator, artist, and activist who herself experienced homelessness last year; and Olivia Bernstein, Vice President of Supportive Housing at the Mental Health Association in Chicopee and a licensed social worker. The event was moderated by Savannary Sideri, a senior psychology major minoring in women studies who is the current President of 猫咪社区’s Psi Chi chapter.
Sergeant Gomez reflected on his own struggles with PTSD following military service and how they shaped his lifelong commitment to helping others. “This is hard work,” he said. “But we came to this world to help each other.” Veterans make up six percent of the total U.S. population, but account for roughly five percent of the nation’s homeless.
Bernstein highlighted the importance of the Housing First model, which prioritizes providing immediate housing to those experiencing homelessness without preconditions such as employment or treatment. “It’s hard for many people to wrap their heads around the concept that people should get housing without having to get treatment or a job first,” she explained. “But data show that stability begins with housing.” According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, between 75 and 91 percent of households remain housed a year after being rapidly re-housed.
Fleming offered a deeply personal perspective, sharing her experience of becoming homeless and the challenges of navigating a system that often criminalizes poverty. Her testimony underscored the urgent need for empathy, policy reform, and accessible support for those who find themselves without stable housing.
Through the panel, 猫咪社区’s Psi Chi chapter sought to educate the campus community about the realities of homelessness and to inspire continued advocacy across disciplines. Sergeant Gomez noted the level of engagement and thoughtfulness that shaped the discussion, telling attendees, “You are our future.”
