1. Rising from
Concrete Jungles:
How Georgia
State can
Effectively Serve
Homeless and
Foster Care
College
Students—and
the Overall
Homeless
Population
By Snotti Prince St. Cyr—Junior,
Exercise Science major and
Mathematics minor

2. My Current/Rudimentary Objectives
• Explain the “tipping point(s)” that convinced me to address Atlanta’s
homelessness problem;
• address the impact that my personal history has on this social problem;
• explain the stereotypes and issues I am currently combating; and
• convey possible immediate and long-term solutions that can demonstrate
effectiveness of Georgia State’s Strategic Plan

3. Homeless Advocacy “Tipping Point” #1
August 2015—Reprimanded by GSU Officer at Classroom South
• Another homeless student and I approached in disrespectful manner by two officers on a
Thursday morning because we were sleeping in Classroom South, 5th Floor
• I overslept and was behind schedule for studying and following up on e-mails
• Officers talked down to us—flippant, condescending
• Eventually spoke to Fallon Proctor of the Office of the Dean of Students

4. Homeless Advocacy “Tipping Point” #2
November 2015—Conversations with Friends, Fallon Proctor, and Anitra Patrick
about My Future and Professional Meetings to Explain My Situation
• GSU Alumni and former employees implored me to let my voice be heard
• November 13, 2015: Second Keynote Speaker at Boxing Hunger event via Naeshia
McDowell and Office of Civic Engagement
• December 2, 2015: spoke at Embark Georgia Regional Meeting at Urban Life Building
• December 3, 2015: spoke at final Student Government Association meeting and
witnessed introduction to “Resource Awareness for Students that are Displaced
Resolution”

5. Homeless Advocacy “Tipping Point” #3
December 2015—Two videos about homeless college students
David Pakman investigative report Jonathan Nunn-Broadnax vlog

6. Homeless Advocacy “Tipping Point” #4
December 2015—Zack Hodges and James Jones living my NFL dream
Zack Hodges interview James Jones

7. What is My History? How Did I Become Homeless?
My decisions and failures to achieve certain goals in my younger years led to four
different episodes of homelessness—and two episodes of contemplating suicide.
• Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised by mother from Liberia and father from Grenada
• Moved to Clarkston, GA in 1991 and eventually graduated from Riverdale High in 2002
• Expelled from Sewanee, the University of the South after Fall 2002 semester for cheating
on a Calculus exam and violating the school’s Honor Code
• Transferred to Georgia Perimeter and then Georgia State University, but expelled after
Fall 2005 semester after failing to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Worked in family businesses while still seeking employment elsewhere, traveled along
East Coast, and reading and self-directed learning when possible
• Suffered from clinical depression and Body Dysmorphic Disorder for most of my adult life
• Lived with a friend and his family during Spring 2015 and unlawfully lived in a residence
during beginning of Summer 2015 that was supposed to be vacant

8. What did my struggle with homelessness look like?
Being a homeless college student revealed my resolve and character,
informing me of what constitutes adversity
• Multiple prejudices from LEO’s, private security, faculty, and students alike
• As a black man, I’m seen as another statistic and wasted potential—especially by black
women
• People look at me as an experiment or charity case instead of a fully autonomous human
being with talent and goals
• I fear coming off as an opportunist to my friends, some family members, and professional
or networking acquaintances
• Logistics, time management, and paying attention to the streets (word of mouth) are
paramount

9. How can Georgia State serve homeless and foster care students?
Including the voices and presence of these students can go a long way to
ensuring the success of Georgia State’s Strategic Plan
• According to National Assn. for the Education of Homeless Children andYouth (NAECHY)
via FAFSA, there are approximately 58, 000 homeless college students, likely to be an
underestimate
• Housing Department, Counseling andTesting Center, and Enrollment Services Center can
merge similar to UCLA’s Economic Crisis ResponseTeam
• Student Government Association must continue with Syllabus Resolution
• Connect with HUD, apartment complexes, hotels, real estate agents, and construction
companies citywide
• Encourage students in community service learning classes and/or programs to speak on
how serving the homeless affects them (Seider, Rabinowitz, and Gilmore 2010; Buch and
Harden 2011)

10. How can Georgia State serve homeless and foster care students?
(continued)
Including the voices and presence of these students can go a long way to
ensuring the success of Georgia State’s Strategic Plan
• Secure space for second food pantry and clothing closet (via Dr. Dana Hartley at Georgia
Tech at Embark Georgia Regional Meeting)
• Work with Admissions Department to include Resource Packet, from United Way or
Atlanta Center for Self-Sufficiency, and make it a part of acceptance packets for new
students on all levels
• Get homeless, foster care, and low-income students to work on self-directed research
programs by giving them Key/Building Access to campus buildings except Sports Arena
• Connect with HUD, apartment complexes, hotels, real estate agents, and construction
companies citywide
• Encourage students in community service learning classes and/or programs to speak on
how serving the homeless affects them (Seider, Rabinowitz, and Gilmore 2010; Buch and
Harden 2011)

11. Group A
• Speak to real estate agents
• Grant writing via Foundation Center
• Conversations with Atlanta Beltline for potential
spaces and projects
Group B
• Meet for SGA Syllabus, Resource Packet proposal
Group C
• Inform more students about McKinney-Vento
legislation
• Create new scholarships for homeless, foster care,
and non-traditional students
• Reach out to credit unions, small banks, and Georgia
Finance Commission
• Group A: Housing Dept.
• Group B: Office of Admissions
• Group C: Enrollment Services
Center

12. Questions and Comments