THUNDER BAY - With temperatures steadily getting colder, most people have already started to bundle up and spend less time outdoors. But for vulnerable members of the community, there’s not always an option to get out of the cold.
Thunder Bay Shelter House is hoping to give people a firsthand understanding of just what it feels like to be outdoors for an extended period of time on a cold night by hosting its first SleepOUT for Shelter.
“I think sometimes you hear the word homelessness but people don’t really know what that really means,” said Thunder Bay Shelter House executive director, Michelle Jordan. “This is an opportunity for us to show people how difficult it is.”
The SleepOUT will be held on the night of Nov. 30 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning in the Shelter House courtyard. Jordan said holding the event just before the official start of winter will hopefully provide people with an opportunity to know just how difficult living on the street can be in a Northern Ontario city.
“We have very cold winters here in Thunder Bay and there are times when people have nowhere to go,” she said. “We just want people to experience that and maybe they will walk away with a better understanding of what that’s like.”
For safety reasons, people will be sleeping under a tent that will be set up in the courtyard with heating stations and a complimentary breakfast will be served in the morning. Participants will also be provided with a nighttime survival kit, which includes sandwiches, water, and pastries.
“We are anticipating it to be really chilly, so we are going to be prepared for it,” Jordan said. “We don’t want people walking away with frostbite or anything like that, so we are going to make sure people are comfortable, but still experience what it is like to feel what it is like to be outside for that many hours.”
To participate in the SleepOUT for Shelter, each individual is expected to raise a minimum of $150. There will be prizes for the most money raised and all the funds will go toward supporting Shelter House services. Jordan said the SleepOUT will not impact Shelter House services and it will continue to run as usual on the night of Nov. 30.
Anyone wishing to participate must bring a sleeping bag, a flash light, and warm clothing. Jordan said the courtyard can accommodate up to 60 people and in order to participate you must pre-register online or by contacting Amber Prairie at 474-4357. Participants must be 18-years of age or older.
