How a college student pushed Kent leaders to cooperate against homelessness

Brittany Corbitt was evicted from a home she was staying in and could not get access to shelter programs. Then she was told she had to leave her tent camp, too. Lyndsey Brennan/The Portager

How a college student pushed Kent leaders to cooperate against homelessness

- Wendy DiAlesandro

Kent State Senior Makayla Sejat had a simple idea: The best way to make progress on the problem of housing people in the city is to get local leaders talking to each other about it.

Bolstered by a background in community activism, and motivated by last year’s disbanding of an encampment under the Haymaker Parkway Bridge, Sejat started making phone calls. What took shape was the “Gathering on Homelessness,” as it became known.

Join our community of supporters to access this article

Articles older than 30 days are available to Portager subscribers with a Plus or Premium plan. Subscriptions start at just $1/month.

Already a paid subscriber? Log in here

Plus

Get more from your email newsletter.

$1+ /month

View subscription options
  • Email newsletter delivered Monday, Wednesday and Friday
  • Full access to The Portager website
  • Participate in the community forum
  • Access articles older than 30 days
  • Read the publisher's comments in the email newsletter
  • List of real estate transactions
  • Local comic strip, Headwater Tales
  • Donate one free ad per year to a local business or charity
  • Print newspaper home delivery via USPS
  • Sudokus and crosswords
  • 20% off everything in The Portager shop