Walking down University Avenue, shopping at Whole Foods, or driving along El Camino Real on any given day puts you in contact with a few of the over 650 unhoused persons living in the Mid-peninsula region of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park. They are largely ignored, and sometimes seen as a problem to be swept off the streets. Some grew up in the area, others made cross-country treks. Some are mothers, some are fathers, others are activists, musicians, or former Stanford employees. They are not fortunate enough to have a fixed, reliable source of shelter, but all call Palo Alto home.

Our Mission

Night Outreach strives to bridge the gap between the homeless and the greater community through education, friendship, and social responsibility.

Our Vision

Night Outreach promotes campus awareness of issues connected with homelessness and engages in outreach in downtown Palo Alto and in San Francisco's Tenderloin District. We host speaker events, organize clothing drives, and volunteer at a local facility that serves low-income and homeless individuals. Our members act out of compassion, the desire to understand and connect with the unhoused and unheard, and the need to build a more just and socially responsible community we call home. Our primary goals are to build mutual friendships with homeless individuals by sharing thoughts and experiences, and to educate ourselves and our classmates about homelessness and poverty. When students confront homeless issues on a personal level, we form personal insights that shape our lives in profound ways.

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