Sleep-out Brunswick event immerses participants in the realities of homelessness

Southport, NC (WWAY) — A unique event in Brunswick County was held Thursday night, allowing participants to experience what our homeless neighbors experience daily.

Brunswick Partnership for Housing held its inaugural Sleep-out Brunswick event at Cape Fear Regional Jetport in Southport.

The event includes a poverty simulation, in which participants are assigned family roles and challenged to overcome poverty using resources like community services, a pawn shop, and a food market.

Some people also slept in cars, tents, or even cardboard boxes.

Executive director Sally Learned said the event pushes people out of their comfort zone.

“Because when they step into this experience and this simulation, they’re really not just learning about an issue in their head but they’re physically moving through it and they’re feeling the emotions and the stress and they’re feeling the frustration,” Learned said. “So it’s a whole different experience for them.”

The event also aims to raise funds to continue to provide services and transitional housing in Brunswick County.