By Adam Donnelly

More than 75 campers raise over $38,000 to help eradicate youth homelessness in Kamloops

Dec 15, 2018 | 8:31 AM

KAMLOOPS — Around 5:00 am at the 2nd Annual Camp Out to End Youth Homelessness, and some of the campers are beginning to stir.

For Aaron Phipps, a member of the A Way Home Campout Committee, it wasn’t exactly a restful night’s sleep.

“All I have is a cardboard box,” Phipps told CFJC Today shortly after waking up. “It causes some level of anxiety. It definitely puts a damper on your mental well-being.”

Having one camper up and about seemed to get the others out and moving. Last year, 56 people took the opportunity to sleep outside during the homelessness simulation event, raising over $28,000 for the cause. This year that number, as well as the amount of money raised went up significantly.

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“We had over 75 campers, people came and [went] throughout the night,” A Way Home Kamloops Executive Director Katherine McParland explained. “I think it’s very difficult to spend the whole night outside. So far we’ve counted $38,000, but we haven’t really counted all the other donations that are coming in. We’ve exceeded our goal and we’ll be able to open Safe Suites.”

In 2017, three city councillors – Tina Lange, Donovan Cavers and Kathy Sinclair – took part in the Camp Out event, to get a feel for what the city’s homeless population endures. In 2018, there were four councillors in attendance – Sinclair, as well as Bill Sarai, Sadie Hunter, and Mike O’Reilly.

“One thing I was thinking through the evening is this a neat thing to experience, but it’s not something I would want to do every night of the year,” O’Reilly said after he woke up. “It’s almost unfathomable.”

O’Reilly says some of the steps the city is taking in regards to new housing projects will help address the issue of homelessness in the city, but also believes the community could be doing to more to help solve the problem.

“[A Way Home] mentioned last night there were almost 100 people here, and they said there’s almost 100 homeless youth in Kamloops,” O’Reilly said. “That kind of puts it in perspective that there a lot of hidden people you just don’t see. It really was eye-opening.”

With the event hitting its goal, McParland says the Safe Suites project will be a reality thanks to all the money raised.

“When they come in[to Safe Suites] they’ll create a wellness plan and set goals to move forward in their life,” McParland explained. “Not only is it just housing. It’s an opportunity for youth to get connected to our community, to be included and to find a sense of belonging.”

For campers like Aaron, the experience is something he can take forward into his day-to-day life.

“I think overall, just being thankful,” Aaron said. “Just being thankful for what I have, and overall this experience will afford me not to take everything I’ve taken for granted, for granted anymore.”