Homeless for a night

Recently Mountain Brook Junior High students gave up the comfort of beds and homes to learn about homelessness in Birmingham.

Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Church of the Advent teamed up to host a weekend retreat to learn about homeless causes, issues and how local churches work to help homeless ministries.

They began the weekend with a two-hour simulation of the trials and difficulties many people face on the streets like finding temporary housing and meeting medical needs. Students then built overnight structures out of cardboard boxes in the meadow behind Saint Luke’s and braved the cold night.

The next day the group headed downtown to Linn Park to hear UAB professor and expert sociologist Rev. Deacon Mark LaGory teach about causes and concerns of homelessness in Alabama before serving at various shelters around the city.