The winter in Peterborough is an awful time for those who don’t have consistent shelter and one local woman wanted to raise awareness of that fact.
Simal Iftikhar is a Trent student who held a community ‘sleep out’ in March, which brought in money for the YES Shelter for Youth and Families.
Iftikhar says she wanted to make a sacrifice in order to put the spotlight on the YES Shelter and its programs, but also the fact the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly harsh on our local homelessness population.
The sleep out was a success and raised $5,000.
In addition to emergency housing, the YES Shelter offer support to youth and families through an emergency food cupboard, assistance with housing and employment searches, life skills training, the Carriage House alternative classroom (in partnership with PCVS and the KPRDSB) and Vocational and educational programs.
To hear our full conversation with Simal, click the link below.

