A group of Algonquin College students slept under stars Friday to raise money and awareness for Ottawa's homeless youth.
Armed with sleeping bags and spare layers, 21 second year students setup camp in Minto Park on Elgin Street, prepared to 24-hours learning what it feels like to be homeless.
"It's very eye-opening," said Brody Leroux.
"I would be inside right now. It's all cold and stuff, and I have to sleep here and I don't have a bed. You take it for granted," he added.
For the last 11 years students in Algonquin's Community and Justice Services program have been taking part in a 24 Hours of Homelessness initiative. The experience gives students preparing for jobs in the criminal justice system some insight into the issues facing Ottawa residents at risk of becoming or are already homeless or reliant on emergency shelters.
"I haven't had a student yet who said they wish they had not done this," said Professor Cat Baron.
"They are very happy to have done it. They are proud of themselves and they always learn at least one lesson. And they all have a little bit more insight into what it is like to be without," she added.
According to the Alliance to End Homelessness in Ottawa, more than 6,500 people, including 1,00 youth, used an emergency shelter in 2014. The average stay in shelters was 77 days, up from 73 in 2013.
Panhandling is part of the experience as is waiting for food donations from friends and family. Sometimes, even the odd passerby drops off a piece or two of food.
"Spare change for at risk youth," one student asks a person walking by.
The money raised goes to Operation Come Home, an organization that helps local youth and adults at risk of becoming homeless. It also goes to support an emergency student bursary.
"There are still a lot of people who don't understand the homeless issue and who don't want anything to do with it," said Evan Darrach, one of the students.
"That's part of the reason we are here."
The 24 Hours of Homelessness project wraps up Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 at 11 a.m.
