Ralph da Costa Nunez ’72

Homelessness and poverty are among the most important issues currently facing America according to Ralph da Costa Nunez ’72, president of the Institute for Children and Poverty, and president and CEO of Homes for the Homeless, who has made fighting poverty and helping the homeless the center point of his career.

Nunez was on campus on November 19, to deliver a talk about poverty, homelessness, and public service to more than 200 students, including 150 first year students in the University Commons Ballroom. The students have been involved in “Pioneers Give Thanks”, a campaign in collaboration with United Way of Passaic County to collect toiletries, winter items and non perishable food items for the impoverished community in the North Jersey area. The drive was spearheaded by first year students in Pioneer Leadership Institute, an initiative designed to encourage students to understand the concept of leadership and assume leadership roles on campus.

“Homelessness is the most misunderstood issue of our generation,” he says. “The typical homeless person is between ten and eleven years old. Every night, there are more than 16,500 children in shelters in New York City. Many more live in rural areas, cars, tents, or live double or triple in apartments. This is all part of the American poverty scene, and we’ll be here for awhile.”

Nunez urged the students to consider public service as a career. He says that as a student on campus in the late 1960s and early ‘70s there was the feeling that people were involved in social issues and believed that they could effect change.

“Public service is an opportunity for change in America,” he says. “It’s the time for you to go into government, teaching and other public service. It’s the most rewarding career. The non-profit sector has jobs. It is ripe for challenges and you can have an impact.”