Sleep Out builds empathy for homeless

One night a year for the past five years, Thomas Mandel and his friends have chosen to sleep on the streets of Lisle in cardboard boxes.

Growing up, he says he has been taught about homelessness. But his yearly experience outdoors is real-world learning.

“Unless you go outside and sleep in a box, you have no idea what it's like,” said Mandel, 16, a junior at Lisle High School.

As part of the Lisle Teens with Character club, Mandel is helping organize a local sleep out event outside the old Lisle village hall Saturday, Nov. 5. It's part of series of events taking place across DuPage County during the eighth annual Sleep Out Saturday, which aims to raise funds to help homeless families.

Sponsored by Bridge Communities, a nonprofit transitional housing support group, the event this year will feature about 60 outdoor sleep sites in parking lots and backyards throughout the county. Approximately 2,000 participants are expected to sleep in boxes, tents and cars to simulate the conditions homeless people and families live with daily.

The evening opens at 7 p.m. with a rally outside Bridge Communities' headquarters at 505 Crescent Blvd. in downtown Glen Ellyn.

Mandel says the majority of those who have participated in the Lisle sleep out sleep in boxes, making sure to layer up because of the cold temperatures. Parent volunteers watch over the sleep site in two-hour shifts as a safety precaution.

His mom, Lori, says adults serve as mentors and guides to the group, but the teens organize the event and coordinate fundraising efforts.

“The fact the kids are realizing there are homeless people right here in DuPage County makes them want to get involved and help people right here at home,” she said.

As many as 40 teens will participate in the Lisle sleep out this year, and each is asked to raise at least $25 through sponsorships — the amount of money it takes to provide one night of housing and services to a Bridge Communities client family, according to the organization. Last year the Lisle teens raised $1,300.

In total, Bridge collected more than $120,000 during last year's Sleep Out Saturday for its transitional housing program, which assists about 100 homeless families a year through housing, mentoring, counseling and job coaching.

Bridge clients, such as Veatrice Smith, 44, of Naperville, said the program has been a great help to her since she lost her home in 2009. A single mom with three sons, Smith lost her job at a Lisle day care center and couldn't afford rent payments.

“I wasn't making enough to even live off of,” she said. “It was just enough to pay regular bills.”

She stayed with a friend for a few weeks until she was accepted into Bridge's program and she could move into transitional housing apartments provided by Bridge in Naperville.

Almost two years later, Smith says program mentors have helped her straighten out her finances, and she's been able to save up some money while working as a teacher's assistant.

“The program is great because it helps you to get back on your feet,” Smith said. “It's a hope, to show you how to budget, how to save your money, and how to be able to use the skills you have.

“I believe those who do accomplish something in this program will be able to help somebody else from their own experience.”

Last month, Smith earned a degree in human services from an online university, a fitting major for someone who has used resources from a support group like Bridge. She now says she hopes to start a program of her own to help those who are homeless.

“It's a great program,” she said. “There needs to be more programs like this.”

On Saturday, Mandel and the group of Lisle teens will be bundled up in their boxes — their makeshift homes for the night. They're usually up by the time the sun rises, he said.

“After you sleep out, the next morning you wake up and it really hits you how fortunate you are to have a home and a place to go and not have to be doing this every night,” Mandel said. “It's a very humbling experience.”

If you go

What: Sleep Out Saturday

Why: To raise awareness of homelessness in DuPage County and to generate donations that support Bridge Communities programs to help homeless people and families

When: Kickoff rally with music, video and live testimonials from Bridge Communities clients begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5; sleep outs continue until Sunday, Nov. 6

Where: Rally at 505 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn; sleep outs at about 60 locations throughout DuPage

Cost: Free, donations and pledges encouraged

Info: bridgecommunities.org