Sleep Out 2020: Wayzata Poverty Awareness Outreach

What is Wayzata Poverty Awareness Outreach (PAO)?

Wayzata PAO is a student group which was founded this past summer by Wayzata High School students. Our mission is to fight and raise awareness for poverty in our local community. Please join us in helping IOCP's Sleep Out in raising money to prevent homelessness and create opportunities for everyone!

Be Like Bob—and Tap into the Transformative Power of Collective Compassion

Twenty-five years ago this November, local shoe repairman Bob Fisher (aka Shoebob) pitched a tent in his front yard to raise awareness and money to help his neighbors experiencing poverty and housing insecurity. He raised $7,000, enough to feed 100 families Thanksgiving dinner. But he had no idea that his individual act of compassion would capture the imaginations and hearts of an entire community.

Since then, thousands of caring individuals have taken part in the Sleep Out, Interfaith Outreach’s annual eight-week series of events and experiences to raise awareness and $2.6 million to prevent homelessness and create opportunities for everyone in our community to thrive. The Sleep Out is how we celebrate and tap into the transformative power of collective compassion.

The Sleep Out has enabled Interfaith Outreach to prevent homelessness more than 34,000 times via direct rental assistance. The money raised each year also enables Interfaith Outreach to provide a full range of services in six critical impact areas: family support, food, housing and neighborhoods, education and youth, employment, and transportation.

This year, when the pandemic has made it impossible to gather in person and when so many of us are grieving the loss of connection with our families, friends and neighbors, we’re coming together—both virtually and safely in person—to once again tap into the Sleep Out’s transformative power of collective compassion. 

If this pandemic has reinforced anything, it is this: We are on this human journey together. Please join us. 

HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY

Too many families and individuals in our community are struggling with housing instability or are experiencing the crisis of homelessness. 

Poverty is increasing everywhere, and it’s growing fastest in the suburbs. Fourteen percent of people in our service area live in poverty, earning scarcely enough to cover housing and other basic needs. 

Last year, 1,950 families turned to Interfaith Outreach for help. All 1,950 families were “cost-burdened,” meaning they spent 30% or more of their household income on housing (mortgage or rent); for many, that percentage was as high as 65-70%. One out of every seven of those families was experiencing homelessness. Almost half had children.

THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE COMPASSION

Twenty-five years of Sleep Outs have shown that we have the heart and resources in our community to help each other thrive. Each year, the money raised by the Sleep Out helps nearly 2,000 local families (that’s more than 6,000 individuals) stabilize, strengthen and thrive by meeting their emergency needs of food, housing transportation, childcare and more. 

Last year alone, our community’s collective compassion contributed $1.1 million in housing assistance that kept people in their homes, preventing homelessness 1,009 times via direct rental assistance. It also distributed nearly 1 million pounds of food and household goods to 1,324 families who made 11,990 visits to the food shelf, and provided case management services to 1,200 families, linking them with resources that resolved an immediate need and provided a plan for moving forward.

Here are some examples of what your contribution will do:

• $3,061 provides services to stabilize and strengthen a family for a year
• $1,337 provides a child one month of care in a quality early childhood center
• $917 prevents homelessness with rent assistance that keeps a family of four in their housing for a month. 
• $410 puts tires on a car so a family can get to work and school. 
• $264 offers utility payment assistance that keeps the lights and other utilities on.

Thank you for your generous response. We wish you and your loved ones safety and health.