Cold weather is here and that means an extra-challenging time for the homeless.
Melissa Golpe is with Covenant House Michigan. It's an organization that helps thousands of homeless kids in the Detroit area.
This Thursday night, they've invited business leaders to spend one night on the streets to raise money and feel what it's like to have no place to go as the temperature drops.
Golpe joined us today with 22-year old Steven Brown - a resident at Covenant House.
Listen to our conversation with them below:
Golpe says Covenant House Michigan provides basic necessities along with education and counseling.
The goal, she says, is to try to figure out why someone has become homeless and to try to break the cycle.
Recounting his story, Brown says his path to homelessness began in early childhood, growing up in an abusive family and going through the foster care system.
He says living on the streets was difficult, as necessity forces one to resort to stealing food to survive.
Thanks to Covenant House, Brown says he now has a full time job and is currently enrolled in school.
Golpe says Covenant House Michigan’s Executive Sleep Out is happening this Thursday. So far there are 40 participants and they have raised more than $150,000.
While Golpe notes the Executive Sleep Out is maxed out for participants, anyone can still pledge money to support one of the sleepers and raise money to help homeless youth in Michigan.
You can visit their site here.
