
As a father, I often think about the families impacted by poverty in our community. What if it were my two daughters who couldn’t focus in school because they were hungry? What if their sense of safety and stability was shaken by impossible choices no parent should ever have to make?
For me, these questions are thankfully hypothetical. But for far too many individuals and families in Halton and Hamilton, they represent the harsh realities of daily life.
I believe wholeheartedly that the strength of any society is measured by how it supports its most vulnerable members. This belief, coupled with the urgent need to address poverty in our community, is driving me to take action. That’s why I’ll be participating in Sleepless For Our Community on February 21st. This event isn’t just a night spent in my car—it’s a powerful act of solidarity and a rallying call for change.
What Sleepless For Our Community Represents
Poverty isn’t always visible, but its effects are profound and far-reaching. Families across Halton and Hamilton are being forced into heartbreaking decisions, such as whether to pay rent or buy groceries, heat their homes or afford school supplies for their children. The statistics are staggering. A recent report from the provinces municipalities has shown that more than 80,000 people in Ontario were homeless in 2024. Food bank usage among renters in Ontario has risen by 80%, driven by rising housing costs and stagnant wages.
Sleepless For Our Community is more than a symbolic act—it’s an opportunity to raise awareness of these struggles and mobilize resources to tackle poverty head-on. By spending the night in my car, I hope to experience, even briefly, the discomfort and uncertainty faced by so many in our community every day.
Making an Impact Together
The funds raised through Sleepless For Our Community directly support United Way Halton & Hamilton’s critical investments in programs that address the root causes of poverty. These programs provide transitional housing, food security, job readiness training, and support to help individuals and families achieve stability and independence.
Last year, these programs touched the lives of over 220,500+ people in our community, offering stability, dignity, and hope to those who needed it most. Sleepless For Our Community fuels this work, ensuring that no one is left behind.
How You Can Help
There are many ways you can take action:
- Register to participate: You can help raise critical funds to support your community.
- Make a donation: Every contribution supports programs that change lives.
- Sponsor a Sleepless participant: Help amplify their impact.
- Spread the word: Share our message on social media to raise awareness.
Your support will bring us closer to a community where no family has to choose between a warm home and a meal, where every child has the opportunity to thrive, and where everyone has the dignity of stability and security.
Together, we can create lasting change by turning compassion into ACTION.
Registration Reminder: Sleepless for Our Community registration closes on February 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Register by February 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM to ensure your participant package arrives in time for the event.