On a cold Minnesota morning, the walk from the car door to the school door is short, but the cold still slices through your sweater like a knife. You mutter under your breath, cursing the weather. Meanwhile, almost 2,000 people sleep on the streets without government assistance every night, according to Minnesota Housing, and around 8,000 rely almost fully on temporary shelters set up around Minnesota. While the displaced population has not increased in the past, with an 8.6% decrease cited by the Minnesota Homeless Management Information System, there have not been any changes significant enough to turn the tide of this battle for the homeless. While the numbers are shifting, experts are still worried that the key to ending homelessness is not temporary shelter, but a deeper systemic problem— and students could play a vital role in this transition. Homelessness is often not caused by just one mishap, but in general is the result of several unfortunate events, such as loss of a job or drug use. “Homelessness is the result of many connected systemic issues like lack of affordable housing, mental health challenges, addiction, job loss, and systemic poverty,” said Jessa Anderson, director of Minnehaha’s Core Formation Experiences, who with Rachel Knight has coordinated with local social-services agencies for March’s CFE week. “If I had to identify one of the most critical pieces, I think I would say affordable housing combined with ongoing, inclusive, and easy to access support services,” Anderson said. “Mental health or addiction issues can be really hard to address when someone doesn’t have basic needs met, like stable housing.” Homeless people require several steps to get back on their feet, and providing a home is just one of them. “Unfortunately, I don’t think there is one single fix that would solve the problem of homelessness,” Anderson said. “That being said, housing alone isn’t enough without addressing the underlying causes that led to homelessness in the first place.” Minnesota has been improving their shelter programs in recent years, building free homes for homeless people. Agate Housing, a Minneapolis shelter, brought 100 affordable apartments to help homeless people recover. “We have strong shelter systems and offer great programs that provide rehabilitation and mental health services,” Anderson said. “However, we still face big challenges, especially with our winters and growing affordable housing shortage.” Anderson knows that high-school students can make an impact, starting with donating food, water and gift cards. Volunteering at shelters can be even more effective than donating. “Getting involved with organizations that serve the homeless long-term is even more impactful,” she said, “so if you find yourself seeing a lot of homeless people or wondering how you can help, see what you can do to get plugged in with local organizations that provide resources and care to the homeless, like Union Gospel Mission, Simpson Housing, or Catholic Charities.”