Saud Anwar

Senator Anwar, Hartford Bags of Love to Hold South Windsor ‘Sleep Out,’ Conversation to Raise Awareness of Local Homelessness November 2

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Housing Committee, announced he will hold a “Sleep Out” event in South Windsor’s Nevers Road Park on November 2 in an effort to raise awareness of homelessness in local communities. Sen. Anwar and Hartford Bags of Love, a local nonprofit charity started by 12-year-old Tiernan Cabot that provides food and basic essentials to homeless individuals in Hartford County, will hold the overnight event. People of all ages will be asked to leave the warmth of their beds and sleep outside for the night to experience what homeless individuals undergo every night.

“For those of us accustomed to our warm beds, a night outside in Nevers Road Park will pose challenges. We will face the cold, we could face poor weather, we may be unable to sleep,” said Sen. Anwar. “While those are temporary challenges for us, only for one night, homeless individuals face them every night. By having this Sleep Out event, we can put ourselves in others’ shoes and share their experience, even for that one night. Far too many individuals across our state face this reality every day. I hope that this event helps people think about homelessness and how we can better seek an end to this plight.”
On November 2, at 6 p.m. in Nevers Road Park, Sen. Anwar will host a conversation with members of the community, homeless individuals and a number of people dedicated to helping them. After this, members of the public are welcome to stay for the whole night or just for a few hours, sleeping outside in the park to gain a better understanding of the plight of homelessness.

Other participants invited to speak that evening include Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno, homeless prevention advocates and individuals who have experienced homelessness who can share their stories. Participants are requested to bring sleeping bags for donations and canned healthy food items for giving to local food banks.
The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. on November 2 to 6 a.m. on November 3.