"Sleepers" Raise Money for Homeless

A homeless shelter in Britain takes a new approach to providing for young people. For the past 40 years, a British homeless shelter, named Centrepoint, has provided approximately 70,000 young people with not only housing, but health care and education. The shelter sets out to prepare young people, ages 16-25 for life on their own.

Centrepoint will host a "sleep out" on November 12, 2009, in which participants, better known as "sleepers", give up the comforts of home, and their beds, to sleep outside for one night in order to raise money for the shelter. This event allows the fundraisers to experience what it feels like to be a homeless person, to get the awareness out there. Sleepers are encouraged to raise at least $800 (500 pounds), that goes directly to the center. The annual event raised about $145,000 last year alone. This year, they expect around 350 sleepers, which makes it possible for the center to raise approximately $400,000.

One man, by the last name of Batten, who will be a returning sleeper this year, works with a property management company, titled, King Sturge, located in London. He commented about working with Centrepoint throughout the years. Batten stated, King Sturge will offer mentoring resources and even jobs to the homeless at Centrepoint this year.

Another man, Jon Milward, who works for a commercial property consultancy, will be participating in the event for the first time this year. He has visited the shelter and has realized, these aren't just old men who have gone out and gotten drunk one two many times and have been thrown out, these are young people who come from dysfunctional families, who really have nowhere else to go, and who want to try to make something of their lives. They just need a boost.

The article also speaks of one success story, a young girl named Stephanie, who was 17 when she came to the shelter two years ago. Stephanie had been in an abusive relationship for two years prior to coming to the shelter. She was on drugs, and was not in good shape physically or emotionally. Centrepoint provided her with shelter and a caseworker, who acted as a counselor and a parent. They guided her through personal problems and helped her to start a stable, healthy lifestyle. Stephanie was quoted as saying, "When I entered Centrepoint, I didn't have the support of my family....the extra emotional support really helped." She claims Centrepoint has turned her life around completely. She is now settled in a flat (like an apartment), and she is working as a youth adviser for her local council. Stephanie is also planning on attending a local university next year, where she will study interior design.

It is so important to help raise money and give to charities during these tough economic times. Hopefully, local shelters can follow suit with this great charity event from Britain, or at least something similar, to help our local homeless people and families.