Issue date: 11/26/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

With a declining economy, home foreclosures can be seen throughout most large cities in America.

As the homeless population grows, one NT class is working to make a difference.

The class, Social Work 4810.004, has devoted its curriculum to working with a local Dallas homeless shelter, the Austin Street Centre. The shelter is one of the few accepting men, women and children and because of it, the shelter is stretching its resources.

The Austin Street Center relies completely on donations and does not receive any government aid.

Each student is assigned specific tasks on which his or her grade is based at the end of the semester. Some of the students teach eight to 10 different classes every week at the shelter on subjects ranging from self-esteem and domestic violence to how to write a resumé and gardening.

"We had to plan out and come up with all the curriculum and find free time to teach the classes because we do all of this outside of class," said Julio Polanco, a shelter class teacher and social work senior.

Aside from teaching, some students are collecting donations as well as finding and writing grants for the shelter. Hannelore Pennington, a social work and gerontology senior, took over the position for grant writer after the on-staff grant writer at Austin Street left.

Despite all the time and effort the students dedicate outside of class time to the shelter, many of the students said they are thankful for the experience.

"Working at the shelter has really helped me grow," Polanco said.

Kenneth Smith, the course teacher, said he is optimistic about how his class will affect the students.

"This class will help open their minds, hopefully their hearts and will provoke them to do something with their lives," Smith said.

Not only does Smith want his class to get hands on experience with social work institutions, but he said he also wants to show how social workers advocate social justice for overlooked populations.

"Homeless people represent a disenfranchised population that society doesn't really think much about," Smith said.

The class also had an effect on the social work program at NT by earning a $20,000 grant because of the class' involvement with the Austin Street Centre. The grant was given to the College of Public Affairs and Community Service.

Bubba Dailey, director of Austin Street Centre, said he sees a mutual relationship between the shelter residents and the students.

"Many of our clients are disillusioned and feel abandoned, so you can imagine what a pleasure it is to see clients come and ask when the next class will be and what it will be about," Dailey said. "We are looking forward to a long relationship between UNT students and Austin Street Centre."

For more information about Austin Street Centre, visit austinstreet.org. For more information on the class or volunteering, e-mail the professor at kenneth.smith@unt.edu.

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