The Brief
- 4,265 students in Hillsborough County Public Schools are currently experiencing homelessness.
- Hundreds of high school students spent a night sleeping outside to experience firsthand the challenges faced.
- The initiative also included a canned food drive, with students bringing donations to be distributed to families in need.
TAMPA – In an effort to cultivate empathy and understanding, hundreds of high school students in Hillsborough County spent a night sleeping outdoors, experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by homeless individuals in their community. This initiative, held just before Thanksgiving, aimed to shed light on the harsh realities of homelessness and inspire students to take action.
The backstory:
With more than 4,000 students in Hillsborough County experiencing some form of homelessness, the event provided their classmates with a unique opportunity to understand what it might be like to sleep without the comfort of a warm bed. As the sun set over Tampa, students rolled out their sleeping bags, prepared to face the cold night.…