Covenant House’s annual Sleep Out challenge for homeless youth goes virtual

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Business leaders will sleep on their porches, in their yards, or on their floors throughout Metro Vancouver Thursday night as part of an annual fundraiser for homeless youth.

Covenant House’s Sleep Out challenge is in its ninth year, and like so many fundraisers has had to adapt to the challenges faced by charities amid the pandemic.

In past years, fundraisers would gather at Covenant House shelters, equipped with only a sleeping bag, toque, and a piece of cardboard, and spend a night outside in solidarity with those youth who may be struggling.

“It’s really about just understanding for one night, it’s just a taste of what it is like for a young person who is out there all of the time. It’s really not about pretending to be homeless, it’s really a glimpse of what our young people go through so you can have a more compassionate understanding of what it’s like,” says spokesperson Kristy Hayter.

Unlike previous years, no sleeping outside @CovenantHouseBC tonight. Participants will stay near home due to the pandemic. #CHsleepout

“Some of them are sleeping out in their backyards, some will be on porches or even their kitchen floor.” – Kristy Hayter, Covenant House pic.twitter.com/RFZUbGXH9D

— Tim James (@_TimJames) November 19, 2020

Switching to a virtual version of the fundraiser has created some new opportunities.

“One of the positive things about having it switch to an online format is that we are able to open it up to people who maybe weren’t close enough to join us in person, and now they can participate in a way they couldn’t before,” she says.

“We have number restrictions when we’re running events like this and now we don’t have that. So, we’re able to invite more people to participate which has been incredible.”

The fundraising goal is an ambitious $1 million, and despite the hit the economy has taken due to COVID-19, donors are stepping up. By Thursday morning Hayter says $865,000 had been raised.

“So many people are struggling but our sleepers have done an incredible job,” she tells NEWS 1130.

The funds go to the residential crisis program. In Vancouver, that program provides safe shelter and support to 63 youth.

“Especially right now, housing really is healthcare so having those beds available is critical at any time, but during a pandemic — even more so.”