Sleep It Rough - Cam Cooney

SLEEPING ROUGH!

From January 27th-31st, I am going to sleep rough for four nights in Glasgow; to raise awareness for homelessness!

My aim is to highlight the realism of homelessness, and show others too so we can all build some compassion and empathy towards those who are. I’m going in with no phone or wallet. I’ll be carrying a GoPro and documenting my experience; which @phatdogfilms will help me create into a short documentary-style film.

Lockdown restrictions, quite obviously, make this act a hell of a lot harder but in the reality of it, in a time like we’re experiencing right now, anyone could fall on hard times or bad luck and find themselves homeless. Not just junkies or alchies, like we so stereotypically think. 

I understand some people might have arguments as to why I would want to mimic the harsh reality of homelessness, when I can simply donate or volunteer at a shelter.

I could simply do just that.

But I believe by throwing myself into the deep end, into the reality of it and giving everyone else a glimpse into the experience, gives the viewer a chance to relate and some connection, to what I feel is a very real serious problem; homelessness. 

And after watching, hopefully, the viewer will feel inspired themselves to donate or volunteer at their local shelter. 

Even if they don't donate or volunteer, the hope is that the next time they walk past a homeless person in the street, they might spare some change, offer encouragement or simply just a smile of acknowledgement; rather than moving to the opposite side of the pavement and completely ignoring them.

Hereeee we go! 



If you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Steps to Hope SCIO and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Steps to Hope SCIO: Steps to Hope is a non-profit charity with a purpose to aid and support the homeless and those suffering from addiction. We operate 2 soup kitchens as well as paying for accommodation for those waiting to get into rehabilitation. We do morning coffee runs where we give hot drinks to those sleeping rough as we as giving them our information. Our organisation has volunteers who are in recovery and have shared the same experiences as our service users.