Simon Fraser University students with No Home

Students at Simon Fraser University left their homes Saturday morning to live without a home for 24 hours.  

This was part of No Home, a charity campaign in it’s second year that helps to raise money for Covenant House of Vancouver and raise awareness about youth homelessness. 

The group of roughly thirty students met outside the Vancouver Art Gallery at 9a.m. Saturday morning with only blankets and a pillow. 

They were not even allowed to have food or water, unless it was donated to the group. 

“Our main goal is to raise awareness about the issue of youth homelessness. And hopefully inspire other youths to hopefully get involved with the issue and try to resolve this issue in Vancouver,” Joanne Leung, Co-project manager of No Home, said.

Mike Savard from Covenant House talks to students outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Photo by Jocelyn Gollner (below)

In B.C. alone, there are over 15,000 runaway youths reported each year. 

Mark Savard of the development office at Covenant House of Vancouver said that there can be as many as 1000 youths  on the street on any given night. 

“The vast majority of these kids are fleeing bad situations, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or parents that are addicted,” he said. “And they see the streets as a better option than what they are leaving behind--- because it’s such a threatening environment.”

SFU students brave the rain during No Home. Photo by Theresa Chong (below)

Students had various reasons for participating in the campaign. 

“I’m supporting my good friends here. I’ve known a lot of these guys since beginning of second year so I just came out to support them.” Kevin Lee said.

“It’s pretty much an awarding event--- to try to live that experience of people that are actually on the streets," Yorkson Jeen said.

Savard said he appreciates what the students are doing and the funds that they are raising for Covenant House. 

“Youths ‘walking the walk’ is really gratifying for Covenant House because they are taking it to the street, literally, and they are finding out what the brutal reality is like,” he said. 

So far the campaign has raised just over $7000. 

In 2009, the first No Home campaign, $5000 was raised for Covenant House of Vancouver. 

The public can donate money until March 31 at nohome.ca