Ballpark hosts homeless awareness event

AVON, Ohio - Sometimes a lesson has it's limits, and so it was in a Friday night simulation of homelessness.

Fifty students along with a few adult sponsors set up makeshift shelters, mostly cardboard boxes, to learn some of the challenges of living on the streets.

The event hosted by the Neighborhood House Association (NHA)  www.nhalorain.org at All-Pro Freight Stadium in Avon was supposed to be an overnight event, but organizers decided to end it around midnight for the health and safety of all involved.

Bundled up and carrying blankets, the group headed for the outfield wall using it to block a north wind.

Two other lessons for the evening were meals and red tape. They were served a soup kitchen-style meal of soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Later they did a poverty simulation where they navigated through a maze of bureaucracy to get social services like bus tickets so they woule be able to make their way to other community services.

Connie Osborn, Interim President and CEO of NHA Lorain County hopes those involved will learn some lessons as well as be able to dispel some misconceptions about those in need.

"I'm hoping that they become more compassionate about possibly a child who is sitting in the classroom with them who may be living in these elements," said Osborn.

The NHA's 68 bed Haven Center on East 30th in Lorain is Lorain County's only 24/7 year-round shelter serving men, women and children.

"Last year we had 483 participants who spent over 18,800 nights of shelter with us. Out of those 483, there was 112 children," she said.

The stadium is sponsoring a fundraising event for NHA on April 16th. Home Run for the Homeless will take place at All-Pro Frieght Stadium in Avon. Information on the 5K run/1 mile walk is available at www.walk2011.com.

Web extra: video player contains video of the event and an interview with Connie Osborn.