VSU Hosts Homeless for a Night Nov. 10

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University hosts Homeless for a Night from 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, to 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, on the Front Lawn.

Presented in partnership with Lowndes Associated Ministries to People Inc. (LAMP), Homeless for a Night is an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees, and friends of the university to raise awareness and to learn about the struggles that homeless individuals — including children — face every day. Participants are asked to step outside their comfort zone for 12 hours and imagine the fear, confusion, hunger, hopelessness, despair, loneliness, and more experienced by those who have no safe place to call home.

Offering a hand up, not a handout, LAMP Inc. “is a caring community of faith, providing for the basic needs of homeless and hurting members of our community. We believe that all persons are created in the image of God. We operate on the premise that all of God’s children have the same needs of food, clothing, shelter, and love.”

LAMP Inc. offers a variety of services to the homeless. It provides a shelter for homeless families, single parents, single women, and single men with the goal of returning them to self-sufficiency. It runs a day center for homeless individuals who want to wash their clothes, use the bathroom, take a shower, or seek refuge from extreme weather. It helps homeless individuals and families locate permanent housing and assists them in discovering the root cause of their homeless and developing a plan for future success. It distributes free clothes and shoes, conducts outreach efforts to build relationships with homeless individuals living on the street, and offers classes in money, stress, and time management, as well as resume writing, job interview skills, computer classes, and more. 

According to its mid-year report, LAMP Inc. housed 200 women and children and 62 men in its emergency shelter, placed 185 individuals into permanent housing, served more than 50,000 meals to the homeless, and provided more than 150,000 services to the homeless during the first six months of 2017. Eighty-one percent of those who complete LAMP Inc.’s programs never need assistance again.

VSU’s Homeless for a Night is sponsored by the Office of Housing and Residence Life and the Department of Student Leadership and Volunteer Services, with assistance from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Donations of any size will be accepted at Homeless for a Night in support of LAMP Inc.’s mission. Donations may also be made via PayPal at www.lampinc.org.

Participants are encouraged to leave their “comforts” at home. This includes pillows, extra blankets, and extra clothes. They are allowed to bring flashlights, books, board games, cards, Frisbees, earplugs, snacks, etc. A simple dinner and breakfast will be provided.

Registration forms may be picked up at the Department of Student Leadership and Volunteer Services, the Office of Housing and Residence Life, or the Office of the Student Government Association. Registration will also be accepted at the event.