The Struggle of Vermont Homeless

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Created on Monday, 07 March 2016 19:42

Written by Matthew Nelson

Lyndonville- RuralEdge kicked off their second event of the weekend at Lyndonville's Bandstand Park on Friday night as a part of their Rural Reality Campaign. About 30 people braved the single-digit temperatures for this year's "Night in the Park."

During the event, people could drop in at any point throughout the night to enjoy food and live music. The event was free to all and donations were accepted.

 Night in the Park is one of several events hosted by RuralEdge and their Rural Reality Campaign. The goal for their campaign is to raise awareness on the issues of homeless throughout the NEK and Vermont.

Night in the Park is held annually during the winter because it gives people a glimpse at the struggles of what it's like to be homeless throughout brutal Vermont winters.

"It's definitely warmer this year than it was last year," Haley Mackres of RuralEdge said. "The reason why we have it in the winter time is it is cold and we can get the full experience which those who are homeless in Vermont live with everyday."

Because of the single-digit temperatures, Yvette O'Connor of H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday) helped provide warm soups and drinks to help warm people up.

"We have four different crockpots of soup and we are providing the hot drinks also," O'Connor said.

H.O.P.E.'s mission is to be a support system in the community that values and supports families by filling basic needs and improving human life.

Recently, H.O.P.E. has been providing packages that they put together to help those who have recently moved into homes or apartments.

"Different businesses are stepping up and helping with the homeless," O'Connor said. "In the last month we have done a home package to at least a half a dozen people because they are off the streets and now in apartments or homes."

In the state of Vermont, a little more than 1,500 people suffer from homelessness. Nearly 19% of that number is children, and 5% are veterans, according to RuralEdge Website.

For more information about RuralEdge and H.O.P.E. click on the links provided.
http://www.ruraledge.org/
http://www.hopevermont.com/

Night in the Park-PKG from NewsLINC on Vimeo.