Five University of Guelph students spent five days and nights last week sleeping outside, experiencing what it would be like to be homeless. The business students were participating in the 5 Days for the Homeless campaign, which began at the Alberta School of Business in 2005. This year students from 19 schools from across Canada participated to expand awareness about youth homelessness. They had to abandon their life comforts and live outside on campus for five days regardless of the temperature.
“The best thing is that you’re outside your comfort zone,” said second year University of Guelph business student and campaign participant Zeeshan Shaikh.
“So the more you’re outside your comfort zone … you realize the importance of your phone, people around you … you kind of understand people more.”
The U of G students raised just over $10,000 for Wyndham House, which provides homeless youth in Guelph with housing and educational alternatives as well as social supports and programming.
“I saw this event last year and I thought it was a really cool thing to do,” said participant, Taylor McNeely, a third-year business student.
“I didn’t know if I could do it, I actually really wanted to test myself to see if I could sleep outside for five nights without showering, same clothes and I thought it was just a really good opportunity to meet new people.”
The five “sleepers” had to live outside from March 13 to 18, setting up shop on the porch of the Raithby House, across from the University of Guelph cannon. They were all required to attend classes and other campus responsibilities.
“It’s been pretty cold and it’s been a really big reality check too, so just some of the things you take for granted like being able to shower in the morning or having more than one pillow on our bed and just even having alone time,” said sleeper Sarah Shepherd, a third-year U of G student.
“The only alone time we get is when we go to the washroom.
“There’s always people around and it’s so weird waking up to people walking by you, looking at you like, ‘oh, what’s happening over there?’”
Participants were not able to make any purchases from the funds donated to them throughout the campaign; all of that money went to the Wyndham House donation. However, they were able to receive other donations to help make them more comfortable for the week.
Each participant was permitted to bring a pillow and a sleeping bag and that’s it. Some of the key donated items included a tarp that acted as a windbreak on one side of the porch, food and extra toques, socks and hand warmers.
“Somebody actually cooked us pasta, they brought us some salad, it was unbelievable,” said fourth-year student and participant Jared Ropchan. “A lot of pizza, a lot of timbits, everything’s so appreciated.”
Ropchan said the most unexpected challenge he faced was trying to stay warm.
“I figured well I’ve got a coat and I’ve got a sleeping bag, I’m set, but … this week it’s raining, but again (homeless) people are always out there through rain, snow, wind, no matter how cold it is, they’re still out there,” he said.
“We’re even fortunate enough to have this roof over top of our heads but there’s so many people again that don’t have nearly anything that we do, so definitely the staying warm factor.”
Although the students experienced their own struggles through week, they made it clear the simulation was by no means similar to what it would be like to be homeless.
“The best thing is here you have support, you have security, you have people looking after you, but in real life, like … outside Guelph, outside it’s way harder, definitely way harder,” Shaikh said. “But I feel that the people outside, like actual homeless people, they have no security, that’s the worst thing.
“I feel that for them and that’s why I’m being a part of this.”
Ropchan drew his enthusiasm from what the campaign means for the kids at Wyndham House.
“Having an impact on these kids’ lives and allowing them to do the things that we are able to do every single day, it’s really motivating to see how many people really want to make a change and really just want to make a difference and just create a better society for everyone,” he said.
