THUNDER BAY – The public is being invited to spend a night outside in late March in support of Shelter House.
Executive director Michelle Jordan on Tuesday said the SleepOut for Shelter, which was created last year, is a chance for people to learn more about what it’s like to be homeless, what many of their clients experience without a place to call home, as well as to raise money to help the organization provide year-round programming to those living on the streets.
Last year’s inaugural event managed to raise about $15,000.
“We’ll have people talk about the work we do here. So we’ll have people from our managed alcohol program, from the shelter side, from the Street Outreach Service program, our feeding program as well as people with lived experience in homeless come to talk to people and educate them about what it’s like and why it happens,” Jordan said.
Participants must be 18 years or older and are encouraged to bring sleeping bags, warm clothing and flashlights on March 28, the night the SleepOut is scheduled to take place.
“We’ll also have breakfast in the morning for participants and we’ll have food available during the night,” Jordan said.
She added the goal is to exceed last year’s total.
It’s not just about raising money. It’s about creating awareness. There are far too many myths circulation about homelessness that just aren’t true, Jordan said.
“I think the biggest thing is people think that it’s their own doing and that it’s simply not true,” Jordan said. “I used to always say we’re all just a paycheque away from being homeless, but that’s not true either. It’s supports.
“If you have no supports in your life and something happens to you, then where do you go? You have to come to agencies like us to get help because there’s just nobody for you to help you get back on your feet. That’s why we’re here.”
It’s rarely individual failings, she said.
“It’s a very small percentage. The majority of the people who are homeless, it’s not because of that. It’s usually other issues that are going on.”
Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $100 to take part in the event, which begins at 10 p.m. on the night in question and ends the following morning at 7 a.m.
For more information, visit the Shelter House website.
