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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, November 18, 2016 | 24 Man sleeps in car to see what it's like to be homeless by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff On any given night in Halton, there are more than 750 families that are either sleeping in their car, couch surfing or staying at an emergency shelter, says Peter Kolisnyk. "The bottom line is, they don't have a place to call home," said the Oakville real estate agent, who is the board chair of Home Suite Hope (HSH), which provides long-term housing for low-income, precariously-housed, single-parent families so they have time to move from a state of crisis to stability. Captivated by the work HSH has been doing in the community -- and the stories he's heard first-hand from struggling families -- Kolisnyk has committed himself to sleeping in a car for seven nights straight to put a spotlight on homelessness in Halton. Oakville Infinity has provided the 56-yearold long-time Oakville resident with a car and a place to park overnight -- its 2270 South Service Rd. W. dealership. It isn't the first time he has slept in a car, but in the past, it had only been for a night and under much different circumstances. "Usually, it's because I was out somewhere partying with friends in university," Kolisnyk said, adding when you're "young and foolish," you don't really care much. He's approaching this experience with a different perspective, attempting to replicate what a struggling family might do after working a full day and having no home to return to. Each night, after dinner, he'll settle into the car around 7 p.m. before leaving at 7 a.m. to get ready for work the next day. Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 16), after his first night in the car, he told the Oakville Beaver the experience has already given him pause and time to reflect about how others go about their lives. We tend to take for granted how fortunate we are to have a fridge full of food, a bed to sleep in, little things in life that bring us comfort, said Kolisnyk, who likened his initial experience to being in an MRI machine as he wrapped himself in a sleeping bag and reclined his seat. As he settled in for the night with no Wi-Fi access and a cellphone that was almost out of Home Suite Hope (HSH) Board Chair Peter Kolisnyk prepares for his first night sleeping in a car at Oakville Infiniti Tuesday (Nov. 15) night to raise money for HSH, which provides long-term housing for low-income, precariously-housed, single-parent families so they have time to move from a state of crisis to stability. His personal challenge will finish on Monday (Nov. 21). He's encouraging people to drop by during the evening to learn more about homelessness in Halton. | Franki Ikeman photos battery, he said he can only imagine how isolating it will be over the next week to be in a car, by himself. His thoughts also turned to those who have to face this situation every day as he struggled to get restful sleep 20-feet away from the "noisy" highway with street lights blaring through his car's windows. Knowing the weather will get colder over the weekend, Kolisnyk added he'll be at the "beck and call of whatever the elements are." He plans to spend the time in his car reading the newspaper, a book, or doing work the best he can while others in Oakville will likely be watching Netflix on their iPads or their favourite program on TV . Kolisnyk hopes his experience and actions will resonate with the community, enough to help him raise $20,000 for HSH to support more homeless families rebuild their lives. He says he believes in the work they do in providing "wrap around support for parents and children" that gives them chances at a better life. "There's that isolation, that sense of detachment from the world that's going around you because you don't have the financial security to live the life that we all quite frankly, take for granted," he described, noting how he's trying to take the I still have a job, I still have a family that loves me and I have friends and places to go to, and you know, I do have enough financial security that I have options.... What I'm living with is over a 12-hour period. What the moms and the kids, who have no opportunity are living with, there's a 24/7 level of stress. Home Suite Hope (HSH) board chair Peter Kolisnyk opportunity to really see from the perspective of someone who feels "trapped in this world." "Because we've been living our lives a certain way for so long, there's always opportunity to do any number of things and when you're in a situation like this, with no family or friends to turn to and it's just you, then what? You start to really appreciate how quickly the opportunities for basic things in life that we all enjoy, and how those basic things can diminish very quickly." Knowing that time spent sleeping in a car will be short-lived, Kolisnyk added he has a greater appreciation for life. "I still have a job, I still have a family that loves me and I have friends and places to go to, and you know, I do have enough financial security that I have options," he said. "What I'm living with is over a 12-hour pe- riod," Kolisnyk continued. "What the moms and the kids, who have no opportunity are living with, there's a 24/7 level of stress." In their reality, he said, they have to face challenges, such as food, housing and financial security, that impede them from getting ahead in life. Kolisnyk is motivated to draw everyone's attention to that and the homelessness that exists in Oakville, even though it may seem like an affluent community. He's well on his way to raising $20,000, with $13,000 already raised to date. He's also encouraging residents to drop by and visit him over the next few nights to learn more about HSH and the work it does. To donate or find out more about what Kolisnyk's experience, visit www. sleepinyourcar4hope.com. What are you crowdfunding for? Jameson Glas D. Kevin Haxell fuellocal.com is an online platform to raise money through crowdfunding: an opportunity for a collection of individuals to make donations in support of a cause. Create your fundraising campaign or help fund local initiatives at fuellocal.com Buying? Selling? Re-financing? Call us for a quote at 905-845-0767 ext. 222/223 GOLD Start your campaign now! .com Personal Professional Service at Competitive Rates 1276 Cornwall Road, Unit C, Oakville Ontario, L6J 7W5 T: 905-845-0767 · F: 905-845-5552 · www.haxelllaw.com · lawyers@haxelllaw.com