Thirty people recently spent a winter’s night sleeping in their cars to raise money for affordable rental housing initiatives in Haliburton County.
Places for People Haliburton Highlands Inc. (Places for People) is less than $1,000 shy of reaching its $40,000 goal for its “Sleeping in Cars” fundraising event. The annual activity challenges participants to sleep in their cars for one night, raising funds through pledges from family and friends.
“There was a very positive atmosphere despite the current political/economic climate which means people think affordable housing is important,” Nataly Mylan, organizer of Sleeping in Cars and Places for People board member, told kawarthaNOW.
Mylan expressed the organization’s thanks for “such an incredibly generous and caring community.”
“It was awesome to see new faces and meet new people,” she added.
Held on Saturday, March 21 at Head Lake Park in Haliburton, Sleeping in Cars saw 30 campers tough it out until morning.
“We had a great breakfast, thanks to Fork & Flour and Rebel Elixir, and Yvonne from Skin Tech,” noted Mylan.
“We owe Andria Cowan Molyneaux and the ACM Designs team a huge thanks for once again being our event sponsor and for participating. Thanks to Gord Kidd for the music, it certainly helped us keep spirits lifted.”
Places for People is a charitable organization in the Haliburton Highlands that creates and manages quality affordable rental housing in Haliburton County, striving to foster an environment in which its tenants can thrive.
Solely run by volunteers and not funded by government grants, the organization operates 20 residential units and has provided homes for more than 100 people in the community since 2010.
Sleeping in Cars began in early 2019 when Places for People founder Fay Martin was trying to think of ways to increase awareness about the housing crisis in Haliburton County. The first fundraiser was held in mid-March of that year when, at three separate locations around the county, people gathered together to experience what it was like to sleep in a vehicle.
Susan Tromamhauser, president of Places for People, said Sleeping in Cars has become an important annual event for the organization.
“The generosity of community members supporting the Sleeping in Cars event plays a crucial role in maintaining our Places for People units, ensuring that our tenants continue to have access to safe, comfortable living spaces,” Tromamhauser said.
“Additionally, this support enables us to plan for future units, addressing the increasing demand for affordable housing throughout Haliburton County.”
Mylan said it’s not too late to make a contribution to the fundraising effort.
“People can still donate and more donations are still coming in. We realize its a busy time of year — hockey tourney season — so if you didn’t get a chance to come out there’s still time to support this very important charity and support community health and well being.”
Those interesting in making a donation can do so at www.zeffy.com/en-CA/peer-to-peer/sleeping-in-cars-3.
