Twenty-four hours seems like a long time to go without home heating, but it’s a small inconvenience compared to the experience of people living on the streets through winter.
The Coalition to End Homelessness is challenging people to try living in the cold for a day and is hoping the experience will be enlightening.
“We’re asking people to turn their heat off so they can better understand the hardships of those that live on the street or in homes without heat,” said Coalition executive director Andrew Wynn-Williams.
Between November and March last winter, homeless people were turned away from a Victoria emergency shelter more than 1,500 times.
Participants in the challenge are asked to turn off thermostat right down for 24 hours starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7.
To take the pledge, register at www.TurnYourHeatOff.ca.
rholmen@vicnews.com
