Ending Homelessness Graduate Certificate

Affiliated with the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck Center for Homelessness, Housing and Health Equity Research, the graduate certificate in in Ending Homelessness offers advanced training to promote the discovery and dissemination of evidence-based solutions to reduce homelessness and health disparities. The certificate acquaints students with the history and current status of homelessness in the United States with a particular focus on Los Angeles that has the largest unsheltered population in the country. Students learn about how homelessness, and responses to homelessness, have been differently conceived, defined, measured and prioritized. A major goal of the certificate is to be able to differentiate between “upstream” and “downstream” factors that must be addressed to solve homelessness and recognize that we have proven and effective ways to intervene. Issues of how racism and stigma contribute to the challenge of solving homelessness will also be a focus. 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, which is required by the federal government in order to funding for homeless services. Students will receive a stipend for their participation in the Annual Homeless Count.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers university certificates that provide students advanced practice or research training through a social justice and intercultural competence lens that emphasizes community, organizational and environmental justice. Certificates are designed to complement and deepen training provided through our degree programs by focusing on experiential application of concepts in relation to particular and diverse client populations, settings, and systems. Each certificate consists of at least 12 units, which may in part be satisfied by courses completed for a degree program. Certificates are also available to graduate students from other disciplines and to employed professionals.