Lethbridge to learn what it’s like to have “no fixed address”
LETHBRIDGE – There’s still plenty of time to join the third annual “No Fixed Address” fundraiser, in support of local YWCA housing programs.
Participants are challenged to gather donations, then sleep in their car in the Exhibition Park parking lot from the evening of May 5 to the morning of the 6th, raising awareness for Lethbridge’s homeless population.
Jennifer Lepko, Lethbridge YWCA CEO, says it’s a truly eye-opening experience that shows how hard living in your car can be when that’s your only option.
“We don’t see [homelessness] necessarily as much as we might see it in large cities. But we have a shortage of affordable housing in the city. We have people that experience a number of factors in their lives that limit them in terms of accessing good housing, or maintaining housing.
“Without an address it’s hard to find employment, and without employment it’s really hard to find a home,” she continued. “Finding a location that they can afford — with any sort of assistance — is still very difficult. It’s expensive to live, and many time we see individuals who can afford the rent, but then are really struggling to put food on the table.”