On Friday, Nov. 20, nearly 400 people — about half of whom camped overnight — showed up at Chicago's Cricket Hill at Montrose and Lake Michigan to brave the season's first snowfall at the Out in the Open Sleep Out.
Out in the Open is the first project of Pride Action Tank, a new, results-driven group that addresses challenges facing individuals and groups within LGBTQ communities through a collaborative process of inquiry, advocacy and action. This event was created to increase awareness and raise funds to support Chicago’s most vulnerable youth — those who are homeless or experiencing housing instability.
The event has so far raised over $40,000 from over 700 donors for over 18 Chicago-area charities that work on issues relating to LGBT youth homelessness. Donations will continue to be accepted through Dec. 31, 2015! Take a peek at 10 tweets that capture the community’s dedication to supporting the estimated 22,000 young adults who are impacted by homelessness at #SleepOutCHI.
Over 375 Chicagoans sleep outside in this snowstorm 2 raise money 2 fight Youth Homelessness. #sleepoutCHI pic.twitter.com/5aK6hl592O
— Tim Carroll (@TimJoeC) November 21, 2015Daniel Gaytan, 34, has been homeless for 13 years and faces discrimination for it every day. #sleepoutchi pic.twitter.com/wSGXsZsinQ
— Rebekah Frumkin (@jeansvaljeans) November 21, 2015We are at Out In The Open Sleep Out. We ain't playin'. #sleepoutCHI @PrideActionTank pic.twitter.com/YdMoBVa3eG
— Kim L. Hunt (@chikimhunt62) November 21, 2015A little snow for one night is much easier than experiencing it many nights on the streets. #SleepOutChi pic.twitter.com/yTNAIoQFkV
— Ald. James Cappleman (@JamesCappleman) November 21, 2015What’s it like to be homeless during Chicago snowstorm? 200 people in #sleepoutchi found out https://t.co/ylvUrp1gMM pic.twitter.com/htmWf3NyCp
— DNAinfo.com Chicago (@DNAinfoCHI) November 22, 2015SleepOut for Chicago's homeless youth (40% LGBT) & transgender remembrance.
#SleepOutChi #TDOR pic.twitter.com/agZraZH9XR
— Sam Abeysekera (@SamAbeysekera) November 21, 2015The Firebelly Design team raised the most money for Homeless Youth, #sleepoutCHI pic.twitter.com/411UMFiLTB
— Tim Carroll (@TimJoeC) November 21, 2015Snow falling at #sleepoutchi -- raising awareness for teen homelessness in Chicago !! Sleep out with the brave few! pic.twitter.com/5AwZF5arDi
— Noël (@noelleharri) November 21, 2015Nice snowy night to #sleepOutChi against youth #lgbt homelessness @LambdaLegal @SleepOutCh… https://t.co/Pk7s1qrDQj pic.twitter.com/8puIYwSJzS
— Lambda Legal (@LambdaLegal) November 21, 2015Last night At the #outintheopensleepout for homeless youth in Chicago #sleepoutchi #homeless #charity #awareness pic.twitter.com/ddEIFLXdJw
— Lyric Harris (@piscescollege) November 21, 2015Serving breakfast to the brave souls that slept over night in the snow w/ #sleepoutchi supporting youth homelessness pic.twitter.com/LkiPWUQtYM
— Fight2Feed (@Fight2Feed) November 21, 2015Categorized under Advocacy, Chicago and Inside Story.
