Corner Brookers bundling up for Coldest Night Of The Year fundraiser

Organizers of Corner Brook's first-ever edition of the national event Coldest Night of the Year are looking forward to marching through the city on Saturday to raise funds for local homelessness initiatives.

"We know that we have individualsthat are experiencinghousing and homelessness issues all the time," said Jade Kearley, a coordinator with the city'sCommunity Mental Health Initiative(CMHI).

• Coldest Night of the Year fundraising site

Corner Brook's event on Saturday nightwill see walkers complete two, five or 10-kilometre loops of the city's downtown.

"It's experiencing what it must be like, if you're out walking the street on a cold night in the winter, and you're not sure where you're going, not sure where you're going to stay that night," Kearley told the Corner Brook Morning Show.

Struggle for funding

50 walkers are registered for Corner Brook's event, in an attempt to raise $20,000 for several non-profit groups in the city.

"The funds will go to help us with the supportive services that we offer," said Lisa Buckland, with the Community Youth Network, which helped 16 teenagers and young adults find housing in Corner Brook last year.

"As a non-profit, you're always struggling to get that funding."

TheCHMIis in the midst of expanding Corner Brook's affordable housing, as 30 people sit on a waitlist for its current building.

"It's a huge expense," saidKearley, adding her group will be applying to government agencies for additional money for the project.

"We certainly have to have some moneyupfrontfor our build, and some of the things that need to be done behind the scenes."

• More affordable Corner Brook housing planned by mental health initiative

More than 75 other cities across Canada, including St. John's,will also hold Coldest Night of the Year walks.