An exercise in living homeless
Coordinated Assistance Ministries holds Sleepout to demonstrate needs
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Itโs time for bed, but all that can be found is dirt or a park bench. An urgent need for a restroom ends in an alley with no privacy or dignity. A growling stomach goes unanswered for a second or third day. The weather turns sour, but the only shelter is a parking garage or an awning over a doorstep.
These are the daily difficulties facing a homeless person, and on Fri., April 19, Coordinated Assistance Ministries (CAM) will give people the opportunity to experience a little homelessness with its annual Sleepout.
โIt's been at least four years since we've done it in person,โ said Dennine Smith, CAMโs executive director. โThe last time was prior to COVID, so this will be pretty exciting for us.โ
Smith explained that past few Sleepouts were performed virtually or isolated, where participants would spend the night outside, but not assembled in a single location. That made the event a logistical challenge and not a full experience. This year, the Sleepout will take place at CAM โ the first time the organization has held the exercise at its new home at 625. N. Union St.
โWe have a building that's a bit more spacious, so in the event that we have some rain, we won't have our guests remain outside,โ said Smith, who acknowledged that retreating from bad weather isnโt something the homeless can consistently accomplish.
But the purpose of the evening is to demonstrate the challenges a homeless person experiences in the effort to find a home or necessary resources like food and clothing. Smith explained how the process works.
โWe will assign everyone a homeless identity, so to speak,โ said Smith. โThey will have a name and a set of characteristics. They will have a scenario that will capture who they are and what they're trying to overcome.
โPart of the evening will include opportunities for agencies or organizations that provide services to the homeless to talk about the kinds of services they offer. They will show ways they help people, and the participants will be able to see, if this is the situation their character is going through, maybe they can go to this organization for assistance, or maybe it would be helpful for me to go here.โ
Each hour, something will happen to the participant. Perhaps they will be forced to move from the location they are using as shelter. Or maybe they will need to find a restroom at 2 a.m.
โThere will be things happening throughout the night to help people to realize they're not going to sleep through the night,โ said Smith. โTheyโre not going to really have a lot of peace because they won't really belong. They're homeless. They're constantly on the move. That's the life of someone who does not have their own place to stay.โ
The Sleepout, then, is doubly educational. The participants can experience a little of what it is like to live on the streets, and they will learn about the resources the community provides.
While CAM is still finalizing the list of participating organizations, some that have participated in the past include United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties and the Center Township Trusteeโs Office
โWe have reached out to many of those organizations,โ said Smith. โWe anticipate that we'll have folks from Helping Our Homies, and we have some folks from the Minority Health Alliance participating. I think we're going to have a really good list of resources.
โIt'll be a really great opportunity for folks without any real knowledge of some of the places that people who are experiencing homelessness can go. I think they will leave with a better understanding. If they do encounter someone living on the streets, they can point them in a direction.โ
Those interested in participating in the CAM 2024 Sleepout may register at www.camhope.org. Youth groups and families can register as well. CAM is also looking for sponsors for the event. For additional information, contact Melanie Waggoner at 765-452-8963.