It's Time to Sleep Out!

Welcome to the Sleep Out Saturday Blog!

We’re very excited about this year’s Sleep Out Saturday event, which will raise critical funds and awareness to help the homeless families in DuPage that we serve. We hope you’ll come back each week to learn more about Sleep Out Saturday and how you can play a part in helping families cross the bridge from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Every penny raised by Sleep Out Saturday participants, the majority of whom are young people, is put directly into Bridge Communities’ Transitional Housing Program to impact the lives of the homeless families we serve.

Sponsors play a critical role in making this possible. As with any event, there is overhead with printing materials, signage, and promotional materials to get the word out, and we are able to cover the cost of all overhead through the generosity of our sponsors.

Sleep Out Saturday sponsors align their companies with one of the finest non-profit human service agencies in DuPage County. These generous corporations are solution providers, working together to respond to a critical community issue.

Please join us in supporting and thanking our sponsors, who each play a significant role in improving the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors. Together, we can create a bridge to a better future.

Platinum Sponsors:

Gold Sponsors:
Advanced Healthcare Associates
Bank of America
Central DuPage Hospital
Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust
Grand Prairie Transit
Harris Bank
Naperville Bank & Trust
Wheaton Bank & Trust

Silver Sponsors:
Community Bank Wheaton/Glen Ellyn
Directions
Nicor
West Suburban Bank

Bronze Sponsors:
Oxford Bank & Trust
Providence Bank
Selden Fox, Ltd.
SportsMed Wheaton Orthopaedics
Suburban Life Publications

A Taste of What Sleep Out Saturday Means to Participants!

We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes. – JFK


Hello again to our readers of the Sleep Out Saturday 2009 blog!

It’s now time to feature our second interview of four, and this week you can really get a feel for the tremendous sentiment that comes every year with Sleep Out Saturday. Another big thank you goes out to Michelle Stuhlmacher, from the First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn, for taking the time to speak with us. Here’s what she had to say...

Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you became involved in Sleep Out Saturday?
My name is Michelle and I am a junior at Wheaton North High School. My church has always been a big sponsor of Bridge Communities and last year one of the women involved in organizing SOS at my church asked me if I wanted to work as a peer leader for SOS. As a high schooler I have a ridiculously busy schedule – between homework, sports, and extracurriculars, I don't really have much free time. I thought that Bridge Communities was a great organization and Sleep Out Saturday a terrific event, but I didn't know if I could add yet another time commitment. Then I remembered what it is like out in the cold, and sometimes the wet, trying to fall asleep and thinking how hard it would be to do this every single night. I realized how lucky I am to have a place I can come home to and I decided that I could make time for a cause like this one. I agreed because the work that Bridge Communities does is so important to our community and is an awesome volunteer opportunity for an organization I really believe in.

We’re all glad you could find the time for something like this. What was your role last year?
I was a peer leader last year and really enjoyed it. As a peer leader I did some PR for the event like interviews and other media relations. I also can talk to groups of kids who do, or are, interested in doing SOS. I had never seen the planning and managing side of how Sleep Out Saturday is run until last year. I was amazed at how much time and energy went into organizing the event, but equally shocked at the enthusiasm and the passion of everyone who works at Bridge Communities. They believe in what they do and can't wait to share this love with others. I was thrilled to count myself among these great people working together for a very important cause.

What activities did you plan and/or participate in?
Peer leaders have a variety of roles; I mainly worked on public relations. I was interviewed for a radio news story on the event and the video shown at the rally the night of Sleep Out Saturday.

Do you believe more kids your age should become involved in events like this, and why?
Yes, events like SOS are so easy and simple. All you have to do is raise funds and sleep out for one night and you have helped a person or a family for a lifetime. We have the ability to do so much if we all work together, the more people we get, the more lives we can touch. If just one person raises money and sleeps out in their yard, he or she might be able to help a family for a couple of months. But if 1,000 people sleep out we raise thousands more and exponentially increase our awareness. And that is really why we sleep out – it is one thing to raise money, it is a completely different story to live a night in the life of a homeless person. After that one night people go home changed by the experience. I didn't realize how many things I take for granted living here in DuPage County. Be person 1,001...you do make a difference!

What do you look forward to most about SOS this year?
The rally! Every year it gets bigger and better. More people come and more entertainment is planned. I am excited not only to see the DJ or band that comes and plays, but also the sheer number of people who are all coming out with one purpose in mind. We are all there to make someone else’s life better…to give them a warm, dry place to stay. If you have ever slept out you know what it is like to wake up in the morning and be a little sore, a little groggy, but imagine feeling that every single morning and still having to go to school or work. It is something that not a lot of people get to understand. I look forward to others, and myself, being able to connect with the families who have been homeless.

This year's theme is HOPE...what does that mean to you?
That word has been used often around the country in the past year, but I think Bridge Communities provides real HOPE to many homeless families in DuPage County. They have helped move families off the streets and start them towards better education and jobs and permanent housing. Bridge Communities provides housing but it also provides HOPE for a brighter future. Each family receives a mentor them that guides the family on their journey to stability; these people really give the family new HOPE for the future. SOS mirrors the families' HOPE as well. By coming out on a chilly fall night, the sleepers show they have hope for a better tomorrow, one in which everyone will have somewhere warm and dry to stay.

Do you have any suggestions for new group/peer leaders this year?
Just that you are helping out a great cause and feel free to let people know that you believe that everyone should have a home. The experience you get from this night is not one that you are likely to get anywhere else in DuPage County. We are all so lucky to have a home so share your experiences, your time and your funds and help those who have not been so lucky. We can make the world a better place, just work together.

Thanks, so much, Michelle. Keep up the great work!
You’re welcome, anything I can do for Sleep Out Saturday is truly a blessing.
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If you are a group leader and would like to nominate one of your teens or if you are a teen that is participating in Sleep Out Saturday 2009 and would like to be a SOS Peer Leader, please contact Lisa Hedrick at lisa.hedrick@bridgecommunities.org for more information.

That concludes this week’s segment. Please make comments or suggestions or share tips and stories about Sleep Out Saturday too!

Next week we’ll have a glimpse into a first time Sleep Out Saturday group and the excitement surrounding planning this event! Thanks and have a great week!

Hope Springs Eternal at Sleep Out Saturday, November 7th!

Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; by all those men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is; who have courage to remake the world as it should be. – Barack Obama

Welcome all new and returning readers to our blog for the sixth annual SOS (Sleep Out Saturday) season! Be sure to share this blog address with your group participants! Over the next six weeks, we’ll be detailing everything you need to know about this year’s event, as well as interviewing some very special people for insights on how to get the most out of your SOS experience!

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, November 7th and will feature over 75 groups, individuals, and families looking to raise awareness for the homeless of DuPage County. As we strive to give homeless families HOPE (this year’s theme) we look forward to helping you prepare for a night of experiencing homelessness.

As you may or may not already know, SOS is sponsored by Bridge Communities, a non-profit organization located in Glen Ellyn. They help homeless families in DuPage County become self-sufficient again. By sleeping outside in November, it gives us a chance (if only for one night) to experience what it might really be like in another’s less fortunate shoes.
The SOS 2009 rally will be better than ever. One of Chicago’s hottest radio stations, 101.9 The Mix, will DJ and emcee the entire event. We are excited for their presence and we know the kids will love it too.

In the coming weeks, each blog will feature an interview with people from four different perspectives, all involved with Bridge Communities in some way, but all speaking for your benefit. We want to make your SOS experience the best possible, so keep checking back every week!

For more information, and to register for this year’s event, please visit www.sleepoutsaturday.org. While you’re on the site, also check out the great videos in our Sleep Out Saturday Newsroom!

All of your thoughts, concerns, and questions are greatly appreciated. Feel free to give feedback right here on the blog.

Coming Up Next Week...
An interview with Sandra Hill, a returning SOS group leader! Hear what she has to say about the SOS experience!

SLEEP OUT SATURDAY RALLY

Last Call for Sleep Out Saturday – Nov. 1

SLEEP OUT SATURDAY RALLY

WHO:
SOS sleepers, their friends & family, and anyone interested in helping those that become homeless.

WHEN:
November 1, 2008
6:30-8pm

WHERE:
Bridge Communities Headquarters – downtown Glen Ellyn
505 Crescent Blvd, Glen Ellyn

WHAT:
Sleep Out Saturday Rally

• CBS2 anchor Rob Johnson will emcee the event
• Jam to “Flipside” - a very cool local band
• Be entertained by The River 95.9 Street Team
• Meet veteran SOS sleepers who will give you some good advice
• Meet and listen to a former Bridge client whose family experienced homelessness to find out what it is was like for them and how Bridge made all the difference in what their future will be.

What happens when you run out of money?

There are many reasons why people end up in a homeless situation; those include poor planning, a mother and her children (with no income) leaving an abusive spouse, over spending, or a tragedy that financially depletes the family. Bridge Communities receives approximately 880 phone calls each year from families in a housing crisis. In fact, a one-night survey conducted on January 25, 2007 indicated that 766 persons in DuPage County were homeless that night. Did you know that the average age of a homeless person in DuPage County is eight? Of the 45,000 DuPage County residents living in poverty, 30% are under age five. The children are the innocent victims of homelessness.

So what does happen when the money runs out and the family can no longer afford housing?

Here’s what our clients experience:

· Kids start failing classes since they are upset and worried about their unsettled situation. They are unable to concentrate on their studies and keep up with the class.

· The family no longer has access to a computer and cannot use the library’s computers since they no longer are a resident and no longer have a library card.

· Some teens drop out of school to work and bring in wages for the family.

· Kids feel isolated and embarrassed and do not admit their situation to their friends; it becomes awkward for them when their friends ask, “Where do you live?” or “Could we meet at your house?”

· There are many incidentals many of us take for granted such as lunch money, field trip money, food at home for school lunches, spending money for a treat, money for new shoes, new backpack, the list is endless. For a family experiencing homelessness, these incidentals become major hurdles to address on a daily basis.

· Kids become even more isolated because many of the group activities or sports teams in which they participated in the past are no longer affordable now.

· Single moms must find work to bring in an income, however they cannot afford childcare.

In summary, life becomes stressful, embarrassing and about survival. The good news is that Bridge is able to help many of those families help themselves. By bridging the gap and providing housing, the parent can go to school to learn new skills to find a higher paying job. Also the Bridge counselors and mentors work with the family on budgeting, life skills, and tutoring the children. For the past 20 years Bridge has been making a difference and you can help by participating in SOS and raising funds to support the cause.

This week bring a can to school with you and ask your friends to donate all their loose change to Bridge Communities. Then ask your parents and neighbors for their support by giving their loose change. As you know, every little bit counts! You will be amazed at how much you can collect in a week if you just give it a try!

How Do Families Become Homeless?

How does it happen? How does a family who is living in a home become a family without a place to live? Believe it or not, Bridge Communities receives approximately 880 phone calls each year from families in such a crisis.

Meet Justyn, now 18 and his brother Jordyn, 16. About ten years ago, their mom, Belinda, quit her job to take care of her parents and several members of her extended family who had become very ill. Within 18 months, she lost both of her parents, a sister, and three aunts. Soon after, she was diagnosed with diabetes and both Justyn and Jordyn were told they had heart disease. Both the boys had to be on heart medicine.

Left with a mountain of medical bills and other unpaid debt, the bank repossessed their car and they were evicted from their apartment. It was right after Christmas, and their mom felt tired and defeated.

“I felt like I failed everyone,” she said, “God, my children, my parents. I lost everything by not making good decisions.”

With two teenage boys, Belinda didn’t qualify to live in shelters because most of them felt they would be a threat to the young girls living there.

Jordyn’s grades began to slip. “It’s harder to make good grades in school because I couldn’t really concentrate on my schoolwork. I was thinking about everything that was going on in my life at the time.”

Justyn realized it was becoming real uncomfortable at school. “It got hard with school because you have friends and they want to come over and visit. It’s kind of hard to tell them “no” and to come up with something like saying…”I’m homeless.”

Justyn and Jordyn’s mom found out about Bridge Communities. Bridge helps families get back on their feet by providing transitional housing, mentoring, tutoring, financial support, and more.

Jordyn talked about how it feels. “Before we were in the Bridge program, life was kinda hard. We were bouncing around…we were living in a hotel or out of a car sometimes.”

Here’s the great news: As recent graduates of the Bridge program, Belinda, Jordyn and Justyn have been moving forward ever since. Today, their mom works full time and they live in a three bedroom home in Villa Park. Jordyn is doing great as a junior in high school. Last month, Justyn, a National Honor Society member, was one of only 68 freshmen to be accepted into the architectural program at the University of Illinois, Circle Campus in Chicago.

We asked Bridge what they found to be the patterns and/or obstacles that appear to be significant factors for people who become homeless; here’s their list of top reasons:

- High rate of domestic abuse
- Make bad relationship choices
- Bad credit, high debt
- Lack of budgeting skills
- Depression is a common theme
- Lower functioning – poor education, undiagnosed learning disabilities
- Lack of specific professional training or expertise
- Decision making is framed through a short term, “survival” type of lens
- Lack of understanding of long term consequences or effects from this kind of decision making. Inability to think/plan long term

Just think how Sleep Out Saturday could help other families like Justyn and Jordyn’s. Thanks for listening.