Have you ever had to sleep in a car, a hotel room, or the house of a stranger for days? What if you suddenly found yourself on the street with no place to go?
For some of the people we serve at Room at the Inn, this has been a daily reality.
Some may have been sleeping in their car before coming here, but either way they all had to call the Housing Resource Center, sometimes for several days, waiting for space in a shelter to become available.
In observance of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week (Nov. 16-24), we are inviting you to participate in our “Homeless for a Night” event, an evening where you can learn more about Room at the Inn’s mission of helping the homeless in St. Louis County and get a glimpse of what the shelter system is like for a person or family experiencing homelessness.
The event is two-part. Part I begins with a dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at Room at the Inn, located at 3415 Bridgeland Dr. Bridgeton, MO 63044. Featured speakers include local experts on the topic of homelessness in our community.
“This event will give people an opportunity to better understand the challenges women and families are facing when they lose their home,” said Chris Hotard, Night Site Coordinator.
Part II is optional and begins after dinner. As many as 20 dinner guests can accept the “Homeless for a Night Challenge” by sleeping at Room at the Inn’s main hall (cots /mattresses and linens will be provided). More conversations
and activities will follow through the night. We have 50 seats available for dinner and 20 spots for those interested in staying overnight for our challenge.
Participants of the Homeless for a Night Challenge will enjoy breakfast in the morning and will greet our incoming clients at 8 a.m., Saturday.
Check out our other event for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week: Strike Out Homelessness.
“National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is all about helping people to see beyond the stereotypes that come with homelessness,” Hotard said. “Because the sad truth is that every night, right here in St. Louis County, there are neighbors of ours who don’t have a home. There are men and women that are spending their days frantically making phone calls with the hope that their kids can have a roof over their heads for the night. This week is important because it gives us an opportunity to tell our story and the stories of the people we serve-to help people understand that we can make a difference, even when dealing with issues as big and complicated as homelessness.”
For more information, or to sign up for dinner or the overnight of our Homeless for a Night Challenge, contact Chris Hotard by phone at 314-209-9198 ext 117 or by email at chotard@roomstl.org.
About Room at the Inn: Sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, Room at the Inn provides emergency shelter and a stabilizing support system to women and families in need in St. Louis County, using a collaborative, interfaith effort of congregations and organizations throughout the St. Louis Region.