Sleep Out Vancouver 2026

By Pranav Sandesh '27

On Thursday, May 21, WPGA students participated in Sleep Out, a service event supporting Covenant House Vancouver, an organization focused on helping youth experiencing homelessness. Students could sign up individually or in groups of four, with each person raising at least $50 or each group raising $200. The purpose of the event was not to pretend that one night outside could fully represent homelessness, but to stand in solidarity with unhoused youth and gain a small glimpse into what unstable living conditions can feel like. The event was designed to build empathy, raise awareness, and encourage students to think more deeply about youth homelessness in Vancouver.

After school, participants walked to No Frills on West 4th ave, where each student had a maximum of $10 to spend on ingredients for sandwiches. These sandwiches were made for people living on the Downtown Eastside through A Plate for Everyone, an organization led by Elisse Szucs '27. Students worked in groups to plan what they could buy with limited money, then returned to school to prepare and package the sandwiches for donation. The activity helped students think about how difficult it can be to make practical food choices when money, time, and resources are limited.

Later in the evening, Mark and Nankling from Covenant House gave an insightful presentation about youth homelessness and the different programs Covenant House offers. They emphasized the importance of supporting unhoused youth with dignity, through activities and programs that respond to their specific needs. Through activities and discussion, students were challenged to think about the difficult choices unhoused youth may face, such as which needs to prioritize when financial liberties are stripped away. Many of the true-or-false statements they shared were surprising and led to thoughtful questions from the group. Their presentation helped connect the activities of the night to the real experiences of youth in Vancouver.

At around 11:00 p.m., students settled into their sleeping bags on the Senior School basketball court and were asleep by around 11:30 p.m. Many woke up around 5:45 a.m. because of the sunrise, and the group officially got up around 6:30 a.m. After breakfast, students gathered for a debrief and reflected on what had changed in their thinking. One key takeaway was that unhoused youth do not have a stable place to return to at the end of a difficult day. All of us have the privilege to go home, rest, and come back to school ready for the next day. Youth experiencing homelessness may have to prioritize finding a safe place to sleep, getting food, and working to survive, which makes focusing on school such a low priority on their hierarchy of needs.