Experiencing homelessness

Ever wonder what it’s like to be homeless?

Students for Social Justice, also known as S4SJ, are giving students that chance during a two-night event called Homeless Village.

Beginning at 7 p.m. last night, and continuing tonight at 7 p.m. students and members of S4SJ are spending their nights sitting in the traffic circle in an attempt to raise awareness about homelessness.

With this being the 5th consecutive year the event has been held and the first year that Dan Jones ‘13 has led it, Jones hopes that Homeless Village will get the word out to students about just how high the rates of homelessness are in America.

Jones knows that as much as people do not like to admit, it is awkward when homeless people ask for money on the street or even pass by, so S4SJ is using Homeless Village as an opportunity to give voice to the homeless.

“So often the homeless become invisible in society, especially in a town like Fairfield,” Jones said.

With approximately 3.5 million homeless people in the United States, Jones knows that Homeless Village won’t exactly make a huge difference in lessening the amount of homeless people in America, but wants to show people that homelessness is a serious issue.

“We recognize that as a club we need to do more than this,” Jones said.

So, in addition to holding Homeless Village, Jones said the students of S4SJ also help out locally in neighboring Bridgeport at places such as Prospect House and Bridgeport Rescue Mission as follow up.

Members of S4SJ also plan on using chalk to write statistics about homelessness in America in parts of campus over the next couple nights as the event is held in further effort to raise as much awareness as possible.

“Homeless Village is just one step, so we want to follow up and get their voices heard in other ways too,” Jones said.