Aurora’s immersive experience is positioned to raise awareness and needed funds for the organization’s work to prevent and end homelessness.
Over 400 men, women, children and seniors experience homelessness in Evansville each year. At Aurora, our mission is “creating solutions to prevent and end homelessness in our community”. It is Aurora’s duty to not only serve the most vulnerable, but ensure that our community is aware, engaged, and activated to prevent and end homelessness here at home in Southwestern Indiana.
The National Coalition for the Homeless, in partnership with the National Student Campaign against Hunger & Homelessness, holds Hunger & Homeless Awareness week this year Nov. 13 – Nov. 21. Therefore, we found it fitting to launch the first ever 48 Hour Homeless Experience
Project in our community. Our purpose is three-fold.
First, we want to raise awareness. This project will help our community and leaders gain at least a small window of perspective about our city’s most vulnerable people. Our planning team holds no delusions that this immersive 48 Hour experience will give our participants a full understanding of what it is those experiencing homelessness face every day. However, it is our intention to grow a greater community-wide understanding and compassion for folks who struggle with barriers to housing.
Second, we want to raise funds for the housing programs we offer, so as to make the greatest impact possible in our area. Aurora serves as the lead homeless service agency in region 12, and as a nonprofit, we rely on support from the public and special fundraising events in order to provide quality services to the men, women, children and seniors experiencing homelessness in our community.
Third, we want to raise awareness and support for the programs our partner agencies offer. For example, for the first time in our community’s history, through the proceeds raised in this immersive experience, Aurora will be able to support and partner with United Caring Services to offer ongoing “White Flag” services in the winter. Ultimately, our case managers and social workers rely on the tremendous social service network in our community. Rallying together with each of our focused services is what makes us successful.
48 Hours in the Life will begin Thursday, November 18th at 12pm. All participants will meet at Aurora where they will then be immersed in the experience until Saturday the 20th at 12pm. Eleven (11) leaders from our community will each receive a unique backstory along with a number of challenges and scenarios they will have to navigate on the streets of Evansville. The scenarios will differ for each individual participant, and reflect experiences similar to what our clients face on a daily basis.
Those community leaders are: Rob Bernardin, Wealth Advisor from the Boren, Bernardin, Schiff Group; Andrew Cope, Commercial Loan Officer with Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union; Randy Goodwin, Business Agent with Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 136; Chaz Halsell, Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at Fifth Third Commercial Bank; Wayne Hart, Chief Meteorologist at ABC 25/ CW 7; Ryan Hatfield, Indiana State Representative; Zac Heronemus, Executive Director of Aurora; Lisa Rhyand-Vaughan, Feed Evansville Chair; Jaimie Sheth, Founder/CEO of JD Sheth Foundation; Phil Smith, Assistant Chief of Police with the Evansville Police Department; Stephanie Stone, Credit Processes Manager at Old National Bank; and Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor of the City of Evansville.
To help raise awareness and funds, each participant will have their own crowdfunding web page where the public can make online donations on their behalf. Checks can also be sent to Aurora at 1001 Mary St., Evansville, IN 47710, Attn: Kim Armstrong. The participants are each challenged
to raise $5000. Livestreams may also be available periodically through the event so participants can share their personal experiences with the public and help promote a better understanding of what the homeless experience is like for many of our clients.
A closing ceremony that includes a news briefing as well as participant testimonies will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, November 20th in Aurora’s parking lot located on 1001 Mary Street.