By By Paul Rothbein and Brendan O’Reilly
Instead of sleeping outside for a night to raise awareness about homelessness in Hempstead, University students became roomless for a few hours on Nov. 19.
According to members who wished to remain anonymous of the University’s chapter of Circle K, an international community service organization that planned the event, the 14th annual overnight sleep-out turned into an indoor gathering.
The members said when they arrived at the location at 5:30 p.m. the event, which began at 5 p.m., was already moved indoors.
“The weather kind of threw people off,” freshman Dina Rosas, Circle K treasurer, said.
Initially planning on spending the night, from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m., on the intramural field, Circle K officers decided to move the event into the Student Center multipurpose room due to below freezing temperatures which would threaten the health and safety of participants.
The club had boxes ready for people to sleep in outside, but instead used tarps and whatever individuals had brought on their own.
Approximately 40 people participated, including a pair of students from Hunter College, who, according to anonymous members, left after discovering the event was going to be held indoors.
Many other participants did not spend the entire night, leaving at approximately 1 a.m.
Besides the complications, members still had the spirit of the event in mind.
“What we want to do is show people what it’s like to be homeless,” Simon Duncanson, chapter president, said. “Obviously, we can’t feel like we are homeless because we have never been homeless. We want people to be aware and get them interested, not only in participating in one particular service, but in community service in general.”
The sleep-out coincided with the National Coalition for the Homeless’ National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week for 2005.
The event was intended to raise awareness of homelessness and the club raised over $150 and collected 30 to 40 non-perishable food items for the Interfaith Nutrition Network.
Long Island, one of the nation’s most affluent regions, boasts the most expensive residence in the country – Three Ponds, located in Bridgehampton, according to Wikipedia.org.
The average price of a Long Island home hovers at $500,000, yet homeless individuals can be found living just outside the University campus.
“One time I was at the Mobil station by Twin Oaks and I noticed a man trying to make a living selling garbage bags,” Duncanson said.
Circle K aims to both spread awareness and persuade students to donate money to the Interfaith Nutrition Network. The INN is a nonprofit organization that collects money to help homeless and impoverished Long Islanders.
Since the club restarted in October, members have also participated in the Diabetes Walk and Breast Cancer Walk that occurred on campus.
Controversy has recently surrounded issues of welfare and charity, however, with some suggesting that the money goes to people who either refuse to work or who use the funds to buy illegal drugs, Rosas said.
“This money goes to the Interfaith Nutritional Network, through which the money goes to soup kitchens and homes for battered people,” she said. “These donations do not go directly to individuals who may abuse charitable funds.”
Homeless individuals comprise 1.1 percent of Long Island’s population, according to Licares.org, Long Island Cares Inc.’s Web site. Put another way, one out of every 100 Long Islanders, including children, are homeless.
“This is not a political issue. This is a social issue,” Duncanson said. “We want people to become better citizens and show better leadership and to help the community.”

Poverty-striken patrons of the Mary Brennan Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hempstead find a warm meal and shelter as the winter months approach. (Tara Conry/The Chronicle)