NEW ORLEANS – Hundreds of people slept out in the cold overnight to raise money and awareness about the plight of homeless people living in New Orleans.
More than 200 people came out to North Rampart Street with nothing but a sleeping bag and cardboard box to take part in Covenant House's annual "Sleep Out to End Youth Homelessness" event. Organizers tell Eyewitness News that each participant raises on average $2,400 for young people that are homeless.
They're cold and they have learned something that every homeless person knows: it is hard to fall asleep when you are sleeping on the streets.
Covenant House says this year's event has the biggest turnout they have ever seen.
The organization says 4.2 million young people face homelessness any given year, and 60 percent of Louisiana's homeless population lives in Orleans Parish.
For more information about the event, or to start a "Sleep Out" of your own, click here to visit Covenant House's website.
WWL-TV reporter Meghan Kee can be reached at mkee@wwltv.com; Follow her on Twitter at @MeghanKeeWWL