Sleep-Out for the Homeless - Most Sucky Homeless Fundraiser Ever

[Dominic]

Ok, this is one of my pet hates. Those sleep out for the homeless fundraisers really annoy me.

Why? I don't know really... it seems like something high school kids do and think they are making a personal sacrifice, at the same time complaining there wasn't enough free pizza.

Also the concept condescends and perpetuates homeless stereotypes, misleading people as to the nature of homelessness.

They seem to be popular with larger charities where it's more likely a twit in the fundraising department came up with the idea. Anyway, whenever I hear about one I think enough of this crap already!

[generic_username]

yer for sure bro.. a useless excercise, those participating would gain little or nothing from it. I recall one of these a few months(or years lol) back and there was all these bussinessman and pollies and stuff doing it. Sleeping in a warm sleeping bag with free pizza and having the safety of a large group for one whole night is not going to help anyone appreciate what its truly like. As for the fundraising, I think its sad that we have to basically 'sell' people a cause using these kinds of stunts so they will open their wallets.

[housed]

you cant expect much from a society that doesnt know how to give without wanting to be noticed by others.

[Rose]

They add free hot chocolate to the pizza here, and yes, a couple of politicians turned up at the last one (some time ago now, thankfully). The participants are also protected on all sides from undesirable intrusions (e.g., homeless "deadbeats" who might try to slip through the net for a slice of free pizza) by police and security guards

What makes me really angry is the way they rattle on about it being "important for young people to know what the disadvantaged members of our society experience" - so the kids go away thinking homelessness is a jovial affair, a kind of "hot chocolate and pizza and good company" affair, in the city late at night.

Any employee in a fund-raising department who comes up (again) with this idea as though it was their own original thought should be required to spend two weeks at least on the streets, alone and unassisted and without their ATM card, prior to proceeding further with arrangements for the event.

[Konstantìn]

In other words,

"Homelessless" as entertainment.

Regards,
Konstantin.

[not an assassin]

Wow. I can't even begin to describe how lame that is.

[generic_username]

yes. Rose is correct. These shitheads anger me, they should be forced onto the street for real.

[beatonthestreet]

Certainly a lot of these 'charideee' sleep outs are a waste of time. They serve a purpose to salve the conscience for most of the participants.
I remember last Christmas in Belfast a number of homeless friends of mine went along and were fuming at the patronising attitude they experienced there.
It is right to increase awareness of homelessness but truly this energy could be directed to more worthwhile pursuits..

[beatonthestreet]

I was in Dublin on Christmas eve, when i chanced upon a 'charity sleep-out' that has been running for over 20 years and does indeed raise much needed funds..

The sleep-out is in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland. Both charities support the homeless with food and shelter.

The Belvedere College Sleep-out is in its 23rd year and while the funds are well-deserved by the charities, organisers say it is equally crucial that public awareness is raised about the plight of homeless people.

During 2007's sleep-out, the boys raised an impressive €142,000, but they are hopeful that before they decamp at 6pm today, they will have surpassed last year's success.

I observed what must have been Irish Soldiers, I dont know if they were reserves or fulltimers, dismantling a large 'tent' structure that was in the middle of O'Connell Street.
The thought struck me as to why they didnt just leave the 'camp' there, it had cooking facilities and was well constructed. I am sure that it would have been beneficial to homeless people.
For that matter, why dont the Irish State use these soldiers to construct similar temporary shelters. Its not as if the Irish army is busy fighting any wars or anything. Ireland is an allegedly 'neutral' state and is only employed in peacekeeping activities..
I am sure if they took a look around some of the Parks in Dublin they could offer their expertise in survival techniques...
Or would that be too simple?

[Ponder]

I agree it's lame. But after all these years, I think it has probably turned into a tradition. The event looked forward to each year with little thought of the homeless by the boys.
They get together, have their pizza, enjoy getting together and see how much they can make. I was a kid once and didn't always know why I was being pushed into charity and fund raising events.
Ponder
new to the forums

[Dominic]

Hi Ponder, welcome to the forums......................

[beatonthestreet]

Howya Ponder..
welcome on board

i will get the kettle on...

[Ponder]

Howya..
Thank you for the welcome!! I feel very .. at home here...*burp*.
BTW Streetseen.. I prefer mine brick fired...3 minute quick job...

[Punter]

Originally Posted by streetseen

I was in Dublin on Christmas eve, when i chanced upon a 'charity sleep-out' that has been running for over 20 years and does indeed raise much needed funds..



I observed what must have been Irish Soldiers, I dont know if they were reserves or fulltimers, dismantling a large 'tent' structure that was in the middle of O'Connell Street.
The thought struck me as to why they didnt just leave the 'camp' there, it had cooking facilities and was well constructed. I am sure that it would have been beneficial to homeless people.
For that matter, why dont the Irish State use these soldiers to construct similar temporary shelters. Its not as if the Irish army is busy fighting any wars or anything. Ireland is an allegedly 'neutral' state and is only employed in peacekeeping activities..
I am sure if they took a look around some of the Parks in Dublin they could offer their expertise in survival techniques...
Or would that be too simple?

I often thought of similar things Streetseen. Obviously there is a myriad of security and safety issues but it seems no one is prepared to trial ideas like this.

For example here in Brisbane right in the middle of South Bank Parklands is The Suncorp Piazza. It's an open yet covered amphitheatre that sits unused as much as 80% per cent of the time. It has toilets and is basically just a big seating area. I've always thought it would be perfect to sleep in. Out of the elements, central and basically not to much damage etc can be done to the area because it is just concrete and plastic seats. South Bank already has 24 hour security so a static guard could keep trouble to a minimum. Serious people who are just looking for a safe place to crash could even provide names etc on a register to secure a spot for the night. Allow people to sleep there from say 10pm to 6am therefore not disturbing other park users.

I know this is obviously a bit simplistic but you get the general idea. There are other similar places around Brisbane that could be used as i'm sure there are in most cities around the world. I wonder if say the Brisbane City Council got behind such an idea whether it would ever become practical.

[generic_username]

This would most likely work well except for one thing. Most people don't want to be insulted by the presence of the great unwashed, they don't really care about homeless people and want them out of the way. This might sound pessimistic but its the reality of what 'most' people think. It's always entireley our fault when we end up on the street. etc.

[jon@everyoneshome.org.uk]

ack! So glad wasn't alone in thinking that... felt like scrooge on steroids!

[mike22]

Had one of these where i was stopping.They were in and out of the homeless centre getting cups of tea all night.Its like an achievement to say they "slept out" for a night.Not quite the same as when your first made homeless,dont know where its safe to get your head down,walking round all night,hoping someone drops a takeaway whilst drunk so you can get half a meal,wondering how you can get out of the mess youre in and how long it will take.
On the other hand though im sure some of the money raised does go to help services for the homeless stay open.

[Dominic]

Geez it would be fun to give some of these people a real taste of reality.. but probably would be breaking too many laws for it to be practical.

[farmhand]

Just my .02. I was very insulated as a child. So please don't kill me for what I'm about to write.

When I was 17 I read about a "homeless camp out" benefit fundraiser in NYC and I thought people are homeless? Sounds like a fun party, so a buddy and I went to check it out with our sleeping bags and a bottle (knew about wino's from TV, never thought they did not have a home)
We spent the weekend, yes there was lots of media, free food, hot tea, coffee, chocolate. I honesty don't think I met one homeless person that weekend. We had a blast, but we learned a lot too, not only about the homeless, but about ourselves.

I grew up going to $1,000 a plate benefits, black tie things. After that weekend I started taking a stand against my family for supporting stupid benefits that they did not know the real reason or mission behind, ie. Jamie's year long trip to convert African Pygmies was aka Jamie's year long motorcycle ride through South America trying different hallucinogenics. All his friends knew the real trip, he was not even going to Africa. But until that weekend we all went along because we knew that our parents had done the same thing and that someday our time would come.

Anyway after that weekend I started finding real places to donate my parents money. (unfortunately they only humored me and liked their world too much, cutting me off when I turned 18 and I refused to become part of the elite with a 20hr per week job.) My buddy and I also started taking a better look at where we were and how different the world was outside of our bubble. I went to school to become a social worker and my buddy became an environmental teacher. If it had not been for that strange weekend, I don't think I would be out making a difference with my life, and my son would not be fighting to change the world in his own way. (gotta tell on him in another post, I'm so proud)

So are they bad PR stunts, yup I agree. Do you change lives, sometimes they do. Not only through a few homeless charities that benefit directly, but sometimes they also change the young party going participants who find a new direction for their lives and make a ripple in the norm of society.

[dragongirlhellfire]

We did one of those at school, except it wasn't for homeless people, it was raising money for schools for ex-slaves in India. I didn't get the relevance of us all sleeping at school in the Gym. It didn't seem to connect in any way to child slavery in another country. But it worked to raise money, and we talked online to the guy who set up the school, which was informative.
I'm not sure if it was entirely what you're talking about because we weren't sleeping out on the streets in the city or anything and it wasn't for the homeless precisely, but I agree, the sleeping out bit is somewhat pointless and gets the wrong idea out even if you are doing it on the streets. I suppose they also pick a nice sort of night when its not raining or cold, too, don't they? Well, of course all of the homeless people have nice warm beds to go home to when it's like that - they just sleep out for the fun of it.