On February 6, 2015, local service provider C-U at Home (who operates the new downtown drop-in center “The Phoenix,” along with a transportation ministry and two houses for homeless people) will have their annual fundraiser “One Winter’s Night” (OWN). Community members will spend the cold, winter night in cardboard boxes in downtown Champaign in order to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless.
This year, from 5:30 to 9:00 pm in the City Building Atrium, OWN will also provide a small resource fair from local service providers who will have information about their efforts and volunteer opportunities. Also during this time there will be an educational component, with numerous agencies (including the City of Champaign), speaking on topics related to homelessness.
5:30 pm – Law Enforcement and Homelessness (City of Urbana)
6:00 pm – Mental Health and Homelessness (Community Elements)
6:30 pm – Children, Youth and Homelessness (Crisis Nursery)
7:00 pm – Shelter vs Transitional Housing (Community Elements)
7:30 pm – Sheltered to Sheltering, One Man’s Story (C-U at Home)
8:00 pm – Panhandling and Homelessness (City of Champaign/Partnering Against Homelessness)
8:30 pm – Women and Homelessness (Courage Connection)
The community is encouraged to come downtown to ask questions and learn more about these topics during the evening.