I have never really thought about what it must be like to be homeless. Sure, like everyone when the cold weather comes around I think “Wow it would suck to have to stay out here”, but I, of course, am bundled up in my huge winter coat, warm boots and mittens, with a roof over my head while I think this.  Being a poor university student when I see the people asking for money/food at Rideau I walk right past them, not thinking about getting them food or giving them money, just wishing I could get to my car/the bus faster to get home to my warm bed.

For 5 days, Business students across Canada are finding out what it’s like to be homeless to raise money for a local charity, while still having to go about their day to day activities such as classes, meetings, practices, and for the Dean of the Sprott School of Business at Carleton, work.  Yep, for one day/night the Dean was homeless.  The Business schools around Canada are spending 5 days homeless on their own campus.  For 5 days they can’t shower, they have no income, their only food can be by donation from students/faculty, they have to sleep outside under a tent that they made, they can’t use any social networking sites, and they still have to go to their classes and such.  The charities chosen by the students were Operation Come Home, and Rideau Street Youth Enterprises, both which cater to at risk and homeless youth in Ottawa.

I hadn’t heard about this fundraiser before last Monday morning when I walked past the tent and sign outside of the University Centre here at Carleton.  I really wish I knew more about it now that I have seen it first hand.  To do something like this would change the way I see the homeless people around Ottawa and London.  They write in a blog (I don’t know how it works with the no networking sites…), as do the other students across Canada, so check it out!  5 days

Have you ever seen something like this, or had the opportunity to do something like this?