Driven to realize Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit mission, students, faculty and staff strive to play an increasingly vital role in our city and our world, working with our partners to tackle pressing challenges and build hope where it is needed most. Marquette’s effort to combat homelessness and housing insecurity in the neighborhood would not be possible without the help of our various community partners, including Near West Side Partners, the City of Milwaukee, Business Improvement District #10, Avenues West Association, and Housing First. Marquette and partners are working to both address immediate needs and enact preventative measures related to housing and security needs for our homeless population.
Led by the Marquette University Center for Peacemaking, the Near West Side Partners’ Promoting Assets, Reducing Crime (PARC) initiative focuses on promoting the many assets in the Near West Side and addressing crime. The PARC team is committed to supporting the Near West Side homeless population and other vulnerable residents during challenging times by employing research and a data driven and outcomes-oriented process to address root causes of housing instability.
Students volunteer more than 8,500 service hours annually to help the surrounding homeless community. Campus Ministry oversees two specific programs aimed at supporting and responding to homelessness in Milwaukee.
Since 1989, Midnight Run has partnered with local meal programs and food banks to provide daily meals to individuals facing homelessness through its Midnight Run program. Partners include All Saints Community Meal, Casa Maria Catholic Worker House, Center for Veteran’s Issues, Gesu Meal, and Housing First-Milwaukee County, among others.
Annually, Project Homeless Connect provides critical care resources and services to Milwaukee’s homeless community. Nearly 90 community organizations join Marquette to provide the following free resources: dental care, legal services, haircuts, vision screenings, and parental resources.
Marquette University’s Center for Teaching and Learning — Service-Learning Program combines student academic learning with impactful service experiences. Working with local organizations that serve Milwaukee’s homeless population, the program has long-term, mutually beneficial outcomes for the university and its community partners. Partners include Cathedral Center, Central City Churches, The Guest House, and the Milwaukee Women's Center, among others.
The Center for Community Service at Marquette strives to form students to actively contribute and volunteer to form a more just society. The aspirational work occurs through several programs including Marquette Volunteer Corps, outreach efforts, and service days.
Since 2011, Marquette Volunteer Corps has dispatched student-led teams of volunteers serve in local nonprofits weekly for a semester. Volunteers have consistently served at the Guest House.
Marquette University’s Center for Community Service is a connector for outreach activities. A bi-weekly newsletter features volunteer opportunities and announces Fall and Spring Community Service Fairs where community agencies can recruit volunteers on campus. Agencies that have ignited these connections include ACTS Housing, Cathedral Center, Casa Maria Catholic Worker House, Milwaukee Rescue Mission, Pathfinders, Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center, Just One More Ministry, and City on a Hill. For information on volunteering contact the Center for Community Service.
Several times a year, the Marquette community gathers for a Saturday of service through Hunger Clean-Up and Urban Connection. Agencies that have hosted Marquette volunteers include St Vincent de Paul, ACTS Housing, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, The Gathering, La Causa Crisis Nursery, and Friedens Community Ministries.
Hunger Clean-Up Fundraising is a vehicle that allows Marquette students to direct support to a “Community Spotlight” agency. Students fundraise on behalf of this agency and educate their peers about the agency’s mission. Donations have ranged from $1500-$5000 to agencies that include Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center, The Guest House, AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, Pathfinders, and Lissy’s Place.
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