By Hannah Morgan
Staff Writer
Half a country away, Arizonians are debating a new immigration policy and less than ten miles down the road politicians are bickering over a bill that could provide affordable educations to Hispanics in America. But Sam Ginty, sophomore history major, is most concerned with the rapid approach of the hypothermia season.
Ginty volunteers four hours of his time every Friday afternoon at an organization called LIFT-DC. LIFT is a nonprofit organization that works to fight poverty and provide basic necessities to those in need in Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C, according to the organization’s website, www.liftcommunities.org.
LIFT moved to D.C. in 2001 and opened an office at the Perry School, just off the Mt. Vernon Square metro stop. In March, LIFT opened another office in Columbia Heights, where, according to Lisa Pollan, site coordinator at the Perry School, where, “About 75 percent of enrolled students identify as Latino,” she said.
By providing clients with the skills and resources to obtain basic necessities, employment and financial stability, housing, education and health care, LIFT works to literally “lift” people out of poverty. Volunteers are trained to work one-on-one with clients to find jobs and maneuver the often foreign and confusing healthcare system and housing market, according to Pollan. An emphasis is placed on teaching and training clients to become independent and prosper in new environments.
Known as “student advocates” in the LIFT offices, college-aged volunteers work directly with community members, mostly in Spanish. “At our Columbia Heights office, four out of five client meetings are conducted in Spanish,” Pollan said, “a student advocate might help a client create a resume, apply for jobs online and practice interview skills. If a client is in need of emergency housing, a volunteer would help the client to access the shelter system.”
Ginty discovered LIFT at this year’s First Look Fair, and was interviewed to be a student advocate. “I was drawn to LIFT because it is an amazing opportunity to combat poverty and really make a difference in the D.C. community, especially with the economy in the state it currently is,” he said.
Although he doesn’t know any Spanish, Ginty is still able to help many clients at the Perry School location. According to the PEW Hispanic Center in Washington D.C., 28 percent of Hispanics under 17 years old live under the poverty rate, and 31 percent don’t have health insurance.
“The need for our services is great: nearly half of our clients are unemployed, and a quarter of our clients work only part-time of in temp jobs. In addition, a quarter of our clients are homeless,” Pollan said.
But not only Hispanics benefit from LIFT. Anyone in need of help can visit LIFT offices. “DC is one of the most expensive cities to live in today and America and times are tough for Washingtonians living under the poverty line,” Ginty said.
In just six months, LIFT-DC in Columbia Heights has helped over 80 people. According to the 2010 LIFT impact report, published on the organization’s website, 22 clients have been directed as to what kind of housing they were eligible for, 5 of them were secured shelter, 70 people have created resumes and 60 job applications have been filled out.
LIFT-DC is looking for volunteers who are willing to commit four hours each week to the office. Although knowledge of Spanish is preferred, it is not required at the Perry School location, which is open Monday-Friday. The Columbia Heights location is open Tuesdays and Thursdays and volunteers are encouraged to be bilingual.
For more information on LIFT, or to sign up to volunteer, check out LIFT’s website at www.liftcommunities.org/washington-dc. Interested students with questions can also contact Pollan, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
“LIFT is an amazing opportunity for College Park students,” Ginty said, “I believe it is important to leave our middle class bubble every so often and see what life is like for the less privileged.”
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