Ending Homelessness
Ending Homelessness Graduate Certificate
Affiliated with the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck Center for Homelessness, Housing and Health Equity Research, the graduate certificate in Ending Homelessness offers advanced training to promote the discovery and dissemination of evidence-based solutions to reduce homelessness and health disparities. It is designed to critically examine issues around housing inequality and homelessness in the United States.
You'll also participate in the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count. The 2023 study showed a 9% rise in homelessness on any given night in Los Angeles County to an estimated 75,518 people and a 10% rise in the City of Los Angeles to an estimated 46,260 people.
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This certificate is designed to critically examine issues around housing inequality and homelessness in the United States.
- Ben Hanwood, Faculty Lead
Maximize Your MSW
Through the core curriculum of the MSW program, you may have already completed 6 of the units you need for a certificate. Adding on a graduate certificate — designed to enhance your skills and knowledge base for specific expertise — will allow you to stand out in the social work specialization that interests you.
Current students in the Master in Social Work Degree Program are eligible for any graduate certificate of their choosing.
What You'll Learn
The certificate offers a unique opportunity to have an immersive experience requiring students to engage people experiencing homelessness through conducting surveys that are part of the Greater Los Angeles Annual Homeless Count. It aims to help students:
- Understand the history and current status of homelessness in the United States, with a particular focus on Los Angeles County
- Learn how homelessness, and responses to it, have been differently conceived, defined, measured and prioritized
- Differentiate between "upstream" and "downstream" factors which must be addressed
- Study proven and effective ways to intervene
- Recognize how racism and stigma contribute to the challenge of solving homelessness
Coursework
The certificate team will help you determine which courses you need to take to complete your certificate. Please note, not all classes are offered every semester.
Hear from Ben Henwood, Program Lead for Ending Homelessness Graduate Certificate
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Add a Certificate to Your Program
This program is currently only available to current students.