Starting today, Student Government is making an effort to educate students and work to eliminate one of the main problems on Hillsborough Street: homelessness.

After this week’s education through Student Government and The Healing Place, a non-profit rescue, recovery and rehabilitation facility that provides a concrete alternative for homeless individuals on Hillsborough Street and throughout Wake County. Student Government plans to have a progressive dinner among restaurants on the street March 27.

“Many customers on the street are unaware of the best ways to deal with being approached by homeless individuals, and steps need to be taken to solve the problem,” Mitch Danforth, a senior in civil engineering, wrote to Hillsborough Street business owners.

Danforth, the representative working with Hillsborough Street through Student Government, said he feels responsible to educate students about the situation. Not only does he plan to educate students through this week’s events, but he also plans to educate Hillsborough Street customers outside the University.

“[Hillsborough Street business partnerships] thought it was a good idea to educate students because a lot of homeless people stay on the street because students are willing to give them money,” Danforth said. “I see a lot of potential in Hillsborough Street right now. We have tons of students and plenty of money to spend, but it just needs some help, so helping the homelessness problem is just a part of that vision I have for that future.”

Danforth said this is the first time students and other customers have had the opportunity to receive this education.

Throughout this week, information cards from The Healing Place will be distributed to businesses on Hillsborough Street that will be willing to offer them to customers. The cards will include the telephone number of The Healing Place, so that homeless individuals can call to be picked up and taken to the facility.

The Healing Place will also host a table in the Brickyard throughout the week and have information available to students about its facility. The members of the organization will also offer advice to students about the best ways to respond to homeless individuals on the street. Students will also have the opportunity to hear stories from a client who resides in the facility and share their personal stories with the clients.

In addition to the educational initiatives, tickets to the progressive dinner, a yearly tradition, will also be available at the table in the Brickyard. In the past, students have paid $10 for one ticket, which will allow them an appetizer at one restaurant, a main dish at another and a dessert at a third restaurant on the night of the dinner.

However, Danforth said the event will be a little different this year.

“This year, the progressive dinner has an additional aim to benefit The Healing Place as a charity event,” he said. “We are especially interested in restaurants willing to provide one of the three courses either free of charge or at a considerably discounted rate in order that the majority of the ticket money collected can be donated.”

As of Sunday evening, Danforth said he did not know exactly which businesses would definitely participate in the event, due to poor communication between him and business owners.

Danforth said they are considering Player’s Retreat for appetizers, Frazier’s or Porter’s for the main courses and Dunkin’ Donuts or Marrakesh for desserts.

“We will definitely know answers this Wednesday,” he said. “I see this as a big event, but I think [businesses] get asked for food a lot of times, so some of them gave excuses as ‘Oh we’re not open that late.’ But the other owners were very receptive and said ‘Oh what do you want.’ And that was exciting.”

As of Sunday evening, Danforth said the tickets will be a minimum donation of $10.

“[Students] can donate more,” Danforth said. “It costs about $28 a night for a resident to stay at the facility, so it would be ideal if some students would want to sponsor a client for a night, but I understand not every student will want to or be able to do that.”

Danforth said the University administration may also take an initiative to encourage the event. He said it may match donations given by students, or work with the restaurants to help with the events.

There will be three groups of 25 students meeting at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 27 to begin the food tours.

“This dinner is an exciting way to be involved in the upcoming changes on Hillsborough Street,” Danforth said. “It will be an incredible event once we get everything set. We just need to get definite [answers].”