Aurora’s immersive experience is positioned to raise awareness and needed funds for the organization’s work to prevent and end homelessness.
EVANSVILLE – Over 350 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 to ensure that our community is aware, engaged, and activated to prevent and end homelessness here in Southwestern Indiana.
November is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month. Last year, Aurora hosted the third 48 Hours in the Life: The Homeless Experience Project 3.0. During that project, 10 community leaders and volunteers each received a unique backstory, along with several challenges and scenarios to navigate while living on the streets of Evansville for two days and nights. We found it to be the perfect time to shed light on the struggles our most vulnerable population experiences, so we will repeat the event this year on November 21-23.
Like last year, each of the participants will receive unique scenarios, backstories, and challenges that differ for each participant and are designed to reflect experiences similar to those our clients face on a daily basis.
The purpose of this event is three-fold: First, to raise awareness. This project will help our community and leaders gain at least a small perspective about our city’s most vulnerable people. Our planning team has no delusions that this immersive 48-hour experience will give the 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 people who struggle with barriers to housing.
Second, to raise funds for the housing programs Aurora offers. Aurora serves as the lead homeless service agency in Region 12 serving 10 counties in Southwest Indiana. As a nonprofit, we rely on support from the public and special fundraising events in order to provide quality services to those experiencing homelessness in our community.
Third, to lift up our community in support and the vital programs they provide. Ultimately, our case managers and social workers rely on the vast social service network in our community. We are successful because of the cooperation and coordination of each agency’s focused services.
48 Hours in the Life will begin Thursday, November 21 at 9 AM. All participants will meet at Aurora where they will receive their instructions and then be immersed in the experience until Saturday, November 23 at 9 AM.
The community leaders at this time are Lacy Wargel, Lean Engineer, Bowen Engineering Corporation; Nick Iaccarino, County Council Member and Project Consultant, Paragon Promotions; Joe Langerak, Chief Legal Officer, National Vet Help; John Heflick, Crossroads Christian Church, Local Engagement Lead; JD Franklin, Certified Peer Support Specialist, Southwestern Crisis Services; Tyler Stock, Executive Director of Talent EVV, E-REP; Lindsay Snyder, Deputy Mayor, City of Evansville; Taylor Merriss, Special Projects Coordinator, Evansville Police Department; Brandon Renner, Chief Executive Officer, National Vet Help; and Andrea Herschelman, Director Southern Region, Veridas Group.
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: Crystal Southern. The participants are each challenged to raise $5000.
Livestreams on Aurora’s Facebook page will also be available periodically throughout the event so participants can share their personal experiences with the public and help promote a better understanding of what life is like for many of our clients. The media is encouraged to use video and audio from those livestreams to supplement coverage. Additionally, we encourage interviews with our Executive Director, Zac Heronemus, and past participants to raise awareness of this year’s event in the days leading up to it. We respectfully ask you to refrain from following the participants during the event as a matter of safety for our clients and participants.
Participant testimonies and interview availability will take place from 8:15-8:45 AM on Saturday, November 23 in Aurora’s parking lot at 1001 Mary Street. We also want to thank our project sponsor Moore Guitars, Evansville Music Academy, and shelter sponsor Fifth Third Bank. Please stay tuned for the upcoming 48 Hours in the Life: The Homeless Experience Project 4.0.
For more information or inquiries, please get in touch with Zac Heronemus, Executive Director, or Sophie Hancock, Marketing and Development Officer for Aurora, as listed above.
Randy has lived in Evansville his whole life and graduated from Harrison High School. He started his career on WTVW in 1980 and has spent the last ten years as a news anchor on WFIE, 14News.
