Northamptonshire homeless charity says sleep-out event is crucial
A charity that supports people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home is hosting its annual Big Sleep Out on Friday night for people to experience sleeping rough.The Hope Centre, in Northampton, has been running the event for over a decade and has raised more than £20,000 each year.Participants in the event, which has the theme "Cold and Unseen", will sleep out for 12 hours with just a sleeping bag and a cardboard or plastic shelter.Kyra Williams, from the Hope Centre, said: "The sleep-out is so significant because it's a sign of solidarity – there's empathy and compassion built into it and without the sleep-out we wouldn't be able to support the numbers of people here today."
'I had no other options'
Ahead of the fundraiser, a 50 year-old man, who asked not to be identified, said the thought of where he would be without the charity "terrifies" him.He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) how he fell on hard times and turned to the Hope Centre for support.He ended up sofa-surfing with friends for a year, after his marriage broke down and he was not able to work for health reasons.At the start of the year, he began staying at the Hope Centre's winter night shelter.
"I've never had to ask for help but I had no other options; there was nowhere else for me to go," he said."Being here has kept me off the street - I've got a warm place, I've got a bed, but the biggest thing is you have got a support team here."This place wouldn't be here if it weren't for people going the extra mile."If you're willing to accept the help, they'll do whatever they can in their power to help you."
Adam Brown, Conservative leader of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), will be taking part in the event this year. He told the LDRS : "It's an absolutely fantastic charity. It's not just about giving people a meal or making them comfortable on the streets, but also providing complete turnarounds in people's lives."I'm conscious of the fact that despite going out and being very cold for the night it will still be nowhere near the reality."But I think it's good to grasp those opportunities when they come along and get even a small insight."
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