Being homeless an eye-opener
U of L students participate in ‘5 Days for the Homeless’
Varying extreme temperatures may cause daily commuters some stress, but imagine the impact it has on the local homeless community.
Five brave and dedicated students from the University of Lethbridge traded in their imagination for some real-life experience as part of the national campaign “5 Days for the Homeless.”
They have been camped outside the Students’ Union building since Sunday evening, but tonight they have a warm bed to go home to.
Participants sacrificed their beds, technology, their personal hygiene routine and regular meals to help fundraise and raise awareness on issues surrounding homelessness.
They built a shelter with cardboard, tape and a tarp and were only permitted to eat donated food.
“I feel like there’s a huge misconception around homelessness and everything that goes into it while living outside,” said participant Brianna Rogers. “It really makes you realize everything from getting up, staying warm, finding your next meal; those are the basic needs and everything else comes secondary to that.”
This experience has been eyeopening for Rogers, especially after considering how difficult it may be for some to apply for a job.
“It’s not just the issue of getting off the street and find a job, it’s the issue of ‘where am I going to take a shower? Where am I going to get a haircut? How am I going to be able to afford to buy new clothes and balance all of my needs.’”
A number of guest sleepers helped promote the cause but Rogers, along with Imogen Pohl, Elizabeth Waddle, Alexis Kelly and Kelsey Blashyn, spent the entire week outdoors.
When this year’s event began on Sunday night, Rogers saw just how quickly the temperature can shift.
“I’m worried about what weather I’m going to have to face that night and that’s me experiencing this for five days, under a tarp, with my classmates and I know that I have the support on campus, but for somebody who is legitimately living on their own, on the street, having to face this random set of weather, of temperatures, it would be really, really difficult and my heart goes out to them,” Rogers said.
The university has participated in the fundraising event for 10 years and a total of over $55,000 has been donated to the Wood’s Homes Emergency Youth Shelter as a result.
Andrew Novello, the local media co-ordinator, has been told numerous times this experience has been eye-opening for those involved.
“It’s definitely a different experience for them because I know that they come from situations where this isn’t the norm, it’s just been eyeopening and you just see that people treat you a whole lot differently.”
Ironically, the U of L held an event to help celebrate a $10-million donation on Wednesday and Rogers attended the event with messy hair and wrinkly clothes.
“Of course, I was dressed in my track pants and orange T-shirt — in our campaign attire — and automatically I recognized the treatment was very, very different,” said Rogers. “There were people welcoming those in business suits and heels and I didn’t get any looks, I didn’t get any welcome.”
Reflecting back, she suspects she would have been treated differently had she dressed up.
“I would have been really respected and I would have engaged in these conversations with these professionals, but because of the way that I looked, I wasn’t even given the opportunity to engage, which I think is very interesting and speaks to the challenges that homeless people have to face.”
Students spent their last night sleeping outdoors Thursday evening, but will remain outside the Students’ Union, near the bus loop until early this evening.
Donations can be made by visiting them in person, or online at www.5days.ca/lethbridge/donate/.