The Boston College Coalition for the Homeless (BCCH) is a student-led initiative that originated from the Class of 2027 Gabelli Presidential Scholars Sophomore Social Justice Project. Every sophomore class of Gabelli Scholars completes a mandatory project in which they choose a pressing social issue to work on. The initiative, launched last year, has since grown into two functioning foot clinics at Pine Street Inn and Women’s Lunch Place. The coalition aims to address the intersectional challenges of homelessness through care, connection, and advocacy, starting with foot health. I had the pleasure of speaking with Executive Directors Catherine May (MCAS ‘27) and Aalok Bhattacharya (MCAS ‘27), and clinic manager Julie Brose (MCAS ’27), who share a common goal of closing the gap between women and men in homeless healthcare.
May shared that her initial work at St. Francis House during the summer before her sophomore year led her to realize the crucial need to create a safe, accessible space where homeless women could receive consistent healthcare. She discovered that many women avoid shelters due to fears of traumatic encounters with men, including the possibility of running into their abusers. She emphasized that domestic abuse and sexual violence are the leading causes of homelessness among women. The program took off after a silent auction earlier this spring—an event that Bhattacharya described as the culmination of all the support they received. “I couldn’t even step into the room because it was so full. That was when [the vision] really started to kick in,” he beamed. What began as a mandatory school project has now become a passion project, and an official PULSE placement for Boston College students, with morning shifts at the Women’s Lunch Place and afternoon shifts at the Pine Street Inn.
The team continues to expand, with 30 new student workers and an executive board of six members leading departments in research, advocacy, and outreach. However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing from the auction to where they are now. May reflected on the many challenges the organization has faced, ranging from structural obstacles to the internal emotional toll.
She also spoke about her journey coping with the weight of this type of work. Stressing the importance of recognizing the intersectionality of homelessness, she says, “There are so many factors that go into making a person homeless: extreme poverty, lack of affordable housing and educational opportunities, discrimination, mental health, addiction, racism, the criminal justice system, and gender. If someone says they understand the issue fully, they are probably lying to you.”
She recounted the story of a woman she cared for who was assaulted overnight, saying, “I think of the women who are homeless, who I just adore and have really close relationships with. And, I’m sitting here angry at the world, and then I think, ‘Would I want them to be so angry about the injustice of everything that they can’t even enjoy their friend’s birthday?’ I would never want that for them, so I wouldn’t want that for me. It’s not productive.” May added that writing short stories about meeting these women and understanding the neuroscience behind the mental illnesses she encounters are outlets to help her process the emotional strain.
Brose supervises the Women’s Lunch Place foot clinic every Friday, overseeing both the clinic itself and the student volunteers. The clinic serves as both a medical and social space for the women who come in. “[The services offered] are a gateway to conversation and a way to get into talking about healthcare,” Brose says. She expressed that foot and dental hygiene are critical issues, often neglected when someone is simply trying to find food or shelter. Two-thirds of unhoused people report a foot concern, most of which relate to poor foot hygiene and improperly fitting shoes (To et al.). “It has an impact,” Brose says, “in terms of foot and emotional health, and in terms of potential relationships with future healthcare situations.”
Additionally, the emotional rewards of service have been one of the most fulfilling aspects of her work. “Our service is mutually beneficial…the parts that fulfill me are when I connect with people in vulnerable situations,” she reflected. Whether it’s a returning guest or a new face, Brose says, each person’s story breaks down stereotypes:
“Some of them share this incredible nuance with me. It’s like art. It’s like walking through a museum of these beautiful people who all have a story to share. Yet so many people walk by them every day as if they’re nothing.”
Bhattacharya’s role in managing logistics, overseeing the student volunteers, board members, and both Friday clinics, has been crucial to the program’s growth. He spoke about challenges in communication, scheduling, and organization, but emphasized the importance of persistence. “What does it say about society if we can’t guarantee food, housing, and shelter to everyone?” He said, “There’s a substantial population of people that don’t have housing, and that’s leading to such deleterious effects on their personal lives and their health. It just gets me going.”
Bhattacharya also expressed his hopes for publishing efficacy research and expanding the BCCH’s study on homeless youth mental health with Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a local non-profit. The efficacy research aims to demonstrate that the services provided by these shelters are effective and impactful. May and Brose echoed the desire to publish their work and expand the student service model to other universities and states.
Despite their different stories and roles, Brose, May, and Bhattacharya all share the same lesson: use your resources to make a positive impact wherever possible. Many young people feel overwhelmed by the many crises shaping our world, whether environmental, political, or social. Still, May shared that “It’s easier to sleep at night when you’re part of the solution.” The BCCH embodies that belief; they are proof that small, student-driven actions can grow into lasting, systemic change. The coalition invites others—students, readers, and institutions—to engage their own skills and passions to make a difference.
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