Five days for the homeless

Sleeping bags, knapsacks and pillows lean against the stone slab of the Henry F. Hall Building on Mackay Street, and a group of individuals in orange shirts loudly solicits donations from pedestrians.

It’s that time of year again when a dedicated few Concordia students sleep on the streets to raise money for the Dans la rue charity. Their effort is part of 5 Days for the Homeless, a Canada-wide campaign to raise money and awareness of the plight of the homeless.

“Five days for the homeless! We are spending five days outside to raise money for Dans la rue! Please help us help them! Your small change CAN make a BIG difference! Please give generously,” the group sings in unison, holding and shaking water tanks filled with change.

Captivated by the chant, I dig into my wallet and pull out a $5 dollar bill. Zoée Matte, French studies major at Concordia, beats me in the race to donate. I ask what convinced her to support the cause. “They are not just raising money for the homeless; they are actually trying to live in the same conditions when they don’t have to,” she answers while putting on a Dans la rue rubber bracelet.

“Dans la rue helps re-integrate homeless youth into society. We’re spending the next five days sleeping outside to raise awareness for the homeless. Every penny counts,” says a volunteer to Matte.



I soon find out the volunteer is Josh Redler, who helped start 5 Days for the Homeless at Concordia in 2008. “I have it better than most people,” he explains. “I grew up in a first world country in a middle-class family. I had three meals a day and a roof over my head. The idea to give back to the less fortunate so that they can have the same privileges one day was really something that inspired me.”

In 2008 Redler, a former John Molson School of Business student, slept on the street for the homeless with two others. “It’s grown to the point where we’ve had 20-30 people sleeping out here with us,” he adds.

Another student stops to read a Dans la rue poster and pulls out some change to donate. “I’m considering sleeping here sometime this week … I think this is a good opportunity to experience another side of how some people live in our city,” says geography major Graham Bradley.

I come back later in the evening to see how the students sleeping overnight for Dans la rue are doing. Some are wearing ski suits, others are wearing multiple layers, and they’re all moving around and singing tunes to stay warm. One student sleeping overnight for the first time, Shawn Hogan, is making up his own chants: “Spare some change to make a change!” he shouts with gusto.

I wonder how it must feel to sleep on the streets, so I ask around. Political science major, Matt Holubowski is a Dans la rue veteran. “This is my third night and hopefully it’s going to be a little bit warmer,” he says. “The weather really gets into your bones. If you are bundled up carefully you’ll be fine, but it really gives you a good sense of what some people have to deal with day in and day out in the city.” I also find out that cardboard provides good insulation against the cold. 

On my way home to my warm comfortable bed, my thoughts are with those brave students who are toughing it out for five days on the street. I also spare a thought for the homeless youth in Montreal, who may not even remember what a warm bed feels like.

Update:
A few days after the campaign ended (it was held from March 11 to 16), I got in touch with organizer Josh Redler to find out how everything went. “My experience on the street was amazing once again,” he told me. “The involvement and dedication of this year's participants kept me motivated throughout the week. The weather was not what we expected, but we made do even if the damp chill stuck in our bones for three of the days.”

Although the final tally is not in, Redler said the total raised this year should reach $27,000. “People can still get involved all year long. They can always donate to Dans la rue directly, they can talk about the plight of homelessness in Montreal, and they can get involved in the planning of the 5 Days for the homeless campaign for next year,” he said.

Redler said one of the best parts of organizing the campaign is seeing new faces come out each year to experience the life of a homeless person. “What really touches me is when they plan on only coming out for one night and end up staying for three or four.

“I invite everyone to come spend at least one night outside with us during our campaign. I guarantee it will change their perspective of the homeless.”

To what lengths would you go to make a difference in our city?

Related links:
•  5 Days for the Homeless
•  Dans la rue