5 Days for the Homeless – An Audacious Reimagining

Project Live for 5 – Hill BSS reimagines a new format for the annual 5 Days for the Homeless campaign in light of the pandemic

5 Days for the Homeless (5 Days) is an audacious campaign hosted by universities across Canada each year. The goal of 5 Days is to raise awareness about homelessness and collect monetary donations for local charities supporting members of society who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. 2021 will be the 12th year the Hill Business Student’s Society (BSS) has led the 5 Days campaign at the University of Regina, with all money raised through the U of R campaign going to Carmichael Outreach. In 2019, the U of R Campaign raised over $58,000 – the highest amount raised across Canada, EVER!

In a typical year, five University of Regina student participants spend five days and nights outside on campus, foregoing the use of common necessities including food, hygiene, and shelter – any food consumed by the participants must be donated to them. Fundraising events are held each day of the campaign at various Regina venues, and student volunteers collect monetary donations in the hallways and classrooms on campus.

The services and programs that non-profits like Carmichael Outreach provide are in higher demand than ever before due to the pandemic. And because of that, the Hill BSS was not going to allow Covid-19 to cancel their campaign. Instead, the team audaciously reimagined 5 Days to ensure the campaign could still occur and support Carmichael Outreach at time when the organization, and its clients, need help the most. For the 2021 campaign, the Hill BSS has partnered with local videographers Munz Media to present Project Live for 5 from March 15th to 19th – a Facebook livestream event held each night of the campaign from 7-9pm. Every livestream will include local guests discussing topics surrounding homelessness, the pandemic, and how our community has adapted. They also feature live entertainment, incredible raffle prizes, and fun challenges. Viewers will easily be able to donate through the livestream, with all proceeds going directly to Carmichael Outreach and helping the BSS reach their goal of $30,000.

Check out the livestream here.

Kudos to the Hill BSS and 5 Days team for being innovative in a time when they could have quit, supporting their community members when they need it most, and of course being outright AUDACIOUS! We can’t wait to tune in throughout the week!

About Carmichael Outreach

Carmichael Outreach provides various services to those in our community who experience poverty and homelessness. Their mission is to foster empowerment through dignity, respect, and advocacy in our community.

Carmichael Outreach offers various services and programs for their clients, including housing support, food security and nutrition, a free clothing and household boutique, children’s needs, needle exchange, healing circle, and life skills.

Carmichael’s vision is to see the end of poverty and homelessness in our community. This is a big job – no one person, group, or organization can end homelessness alone. That is why we all need to come together to do our parts, however big or small – and 5 Days for the Homeless, or Project Live for 5, is a great way for YOU to get involved!