University students across Canada are giving up their creature comforts and basic necessities for five days to raise money and awareness for the homeless.
5 Days for the Homeless was created by students at the University of Alberta's School of Business in 2005. The group had identified homelessness as a growing issue and saw it as a chance to give back to the community.
The event grew to the national level three years later and to date has raised nearly $2 million.
Here in Montreal students at Concordia and McGill will be sleeping outside, regardless of what Mother Nature brings, with just a sleeping bag, only eating food received by donation all while still attending classes.
5 days for the homeless kicks off at Concordia University. @CTVMontreal pic.twitter.com/hHBB0TAUU9
— Cosmo Santamaria (@cosmoCTV) March 13, 2018
The universities are looking to raise more than $20,000 (combined) for Dans La Rue and Chez Doris, which support homeless and at-risk youths and women respectively.