By Bert Gambini 
 
“Pathways to Stability” will staff the Central Library downtown with trained UB graduate students, linking at-need patrons to resources and services 

University at Buffalo social work and public health graduate students will soon be at the downtown library as part of a pilot project to assist patrons struggling with housing instability, behavioral health, and substance use issues. 

“Pathways to Stability” is a trauma-informed project designed to reduce reliance on emergency and intensive services among at-risk populations by connecting them to a range of resources. 

In 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau found that 26% of Buffalo’s population lived in poverty. According to Michael Applegarth, PhD, assistant professor in UB’s School of Social Work and the project’s principal investigator, the project represents a community investment that advocates for solutions to familiar challenges associated with that reality while providing students with valuable workforce development skills. 

“Like many other cities, Buffalo is navigating how to respond to those struggling with these kinds of difficulties,” says Applegarth. “The goal of our project is to intervene before there’s a need for things like emergency department visits or involvement with the criminal legal system.” 

UB is collaborating on the project with the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. Co-investigators include Applegarth’s UB colleagues Linda Kahn, PhD, a research professor in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, and Jessica Kruger, PhD, a clinical associate professor in the School of Public Health and Health Professions. 

Applegarth says the downtown library at 1 Lafayette Square in Buffalo is a trusted community space and is within walking distance of the Buffalo City Mission, the Erie County Department of Social Services, and the Erie County Holding Center. It is near a park and a bus station and is one of the few places where people can easily access computers. “It’s a common gathering point that can benefit from additional support services,” says Applegarth. “Patrons requiring services often engage the librarians, who, in addition to helping, are managing their other duties. We can reduce that strain so librarians continue to fulfill their community mission while helping people at what is already a gathering point.” 

The plan is to staff the library with students twice a week for 10 weeks, beginning sometime next month. As the project progresses, Applegarth says they will learn what is working and what is not, and adjust accordingly. “At the end of the pilot, we’ll measure service reach and student learning outcomes, determine the extent of the need, and identify which resources were most often requested,” says Applegarth.  

The project’s team will share its findings with community partners. “That information will help us build on future work and pursue long-term funding possibilities,” says Applegarth.   

Bert Gambini is a News Content Editor for the UB School of Social Work.

Photo CREDIT: D. Michael Applegarth, School of Social Work, Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki