Innovative Project Tackles Paterson’s Housing Crisis Through Education, Advocacy, and Community Action
Three students from Passaic County Technical Institute’s (PCTI) School of Education and Human Services have earned second place nationally in the 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference Career Pathways Showcase: Human Services competition. Noriana Rivera and Maya MacCracken of Paterson, NJ, and Olivia Honczarenko of Ringwood, NJ, distinguished themselves by addressing the critical housing crisis impacting youth and families in Paterson, NJ.
The Career Pathways Showcase challenges students to identify significant issues within their career fields and develop practical solutions through research, community engagement, and professional presentation. The team’s project addressed the growing crisis of youth homelessness in Paterson.
Through advocacy, education, and action, the team collaborated with Circle of Care to design and deliver a trauma-informed workshop to more than 65 educators across Passaic County. The training increased awareness of how housing insecurity impacts student mental health and academic performance, equipped educators with trauma-sensitive strategies, and introduced critical resources such as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
The team successfully lobbied against a proposed Paterson ordinance that would have penalized individuals experiencing homelessness, raising awareness among local leaders about the detrimental effects of such policies. Working closely with the Paterson Housing Alliance, a coalition dedicated to addressing housing insecurity, the team identified 111 viable vacant properties in Paterson that could be converted into affordable, long-term housing.
To extend their impact, the students launched their own nonprofit, The Passaic County Housing Advocates which is committed to raising awareness, training educators, and promoting housing justice. Through this organization, they have already raised funds and donated eight laptops to local shelters and mutual aid programs, demonstrating a strong and lasting commitment to their community.
This achievement reflects the impact of youth leadership, civic engagement, and career and technical education in addressing urgent social issues. PCTI congratulates Olivia, Noriana, and Maya on their national recognition and their ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable students and families in their community.
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PCTI School of Education and Human Services students Olivia Honczarenko, Maya MacCracken, & Noriana Rivera, silver medalist at 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in the Career Pathways Showcase: Human Services competition