To the Smith Administration and Community:

In light of the spreading pandemic of covid-19 and the state of emergency in Massachusetts, we recognize the need to pool resources to protect frontline communities. In particular, this virus has the potential to hit populations without homes the hardest- if we are to recover and tend to our bodies, first and foremost we need a safe place to rest. Recognizing that schools are closing and many students do have safe homes to return to/the resources to access housing, and that there will now be many empty beds in a time of so much need, we feel strongly that Smith needs to make beds available to those who need them. 

As it stands, there is extremely limited shelter space in Northampton- it is unthinkable that in a country already where there is such a high population of those without a place to rest there is simultaneously so many empty houses, abandoned buildings, etc. without consistent use- in the coming weeks we will only see this disparity in shelter exacerbated. There are 47 beds at shelters in Northampton, 20 of which are, for the time being, only overnight. The homeless population of Northampton already far exceeds this number.  With many distinct and separate buildings used for dorms on Smith campus specifically, we can offer beds as well as running water to allow for people to stay rested and clean. If students remaining on campus feel uncertain about sharing spaces with people they do not know, surely we can designate student-specific houses and houses for those seeking shelter.

The pandemic is an issue of public health, on a global scale. There are no individual solutions to this problem- the only thing that will save us (each and every one of us) are practices of mutual aid and distribution of underutilized resources. Now is a time for the Smith administration to be concerned not only to produce “women of the world”, but to actively step up as supporters of our community. We have the resources and we see where the need is- there is a lack of federal infrastructure and instead we must engage in neighborhood organizing. A virus does not care who you are, how much money you have, what school you go to- it can infect anyone and spread to anyone else. If we keep our neighbors safe, we keep ourselves safe. 

With great hope and love,

Smith students and alumnae