DeGroote students shed comfort, shelter to raise awareness

University students are accustomed to staying on campus for long hours studying, and many claim that they have no money. However, not many could say that they lived at McMaster for five days straight, slept outside at night, and begged for food.

On Sunday, March 14 at 3 p.m. five McMaster Commerce students will begin the 5 Days for the Homeless program. Until Friday, March 19 at 3 p.m. Steve Raymond, Benjamin Verkerk, Sara Berces, Briana Peterson, and Jake Truant will be living outside of the McMaster University Student Centre. Their goals are to generate awareness with the community about homelessness as well as promote humanitarianism.

"The first step in stopping or reversing homelessness is to create awareness. The more aware and knowledgeable people are of current situations the more likely they are to react," explains Berces.

The students must remain on campus for all five days; they cannot have any disposable income and can only access food, drinks and money through begging. They may not shower, and they also have to go to all of their classes and fulfill all academic responsibilities.

Last year the 5 Days for the Homeless event at McMaster raised $10,000 and the students hope to reach this amount again despite recent economic conditions. All funds are donated to the Good Shepherd Centres of Hamilton which provides shelters, food and programs for men, women and youth. "The Good Shepherd has phenomenal programs and we want to contribute as much as we can," stated program manager Greg Morris.

When it's all over, the participants expect to have a different outlook on homelessness.

"This campaign will allow me to experience something totally foreign to me and open my eyes to a reality that many Canadians face day to day," said Berces.