Syracuse weather has prevented some students from learning the true meaning of homelessness.

Habitat for Humanity planned on hosting its annual ShantyTown last night where students were expected to spend the night sleeping on the Quad to spread awareness of homelessness. The rainy weather, though, put a damper on the sleepover as the executive board canceled the event until further notice.

ShantyTown was part of the organization’s weeklong events, Habifest, where students will be participating in several projects that help present the realities of poverty at Syracuse University and at campuses throughout the country.

‘Habifest is a week of education and advocacy on homelessness,’ said Ryan Crowder, the president of Habitat and a senior American studies major.

As part of Habifest, ShantyTown was planned to show other students on campus the problems millions of Americans face each night, Crowder said.

‘It’s a way for us to be more visible,’ Crowder said. ‘(Habifest) is not a way to dramatize homelessness.’

In addition to the sleepover on the Quad, ShantyTown planned on including a poverty discussion where guest speakers will present housing problems in America and within the state, Crowder said.

‘It’s an activity to learn more about long-term housing problems,’ said Kevin Brady, a member of Habitat and a senior Spanish and policy studies major.

Approximately 30 students were expected to participate in the sleepover of all different campus organizations, Crowder said.

Along with ShantyTown, Habitat has planned a shed building project for a local homeowner and work projects for the weekend that will continue as scheduled.

There will be two work projects where interested students can work on housing in Watertown and in Syracuse this weekend, Crowder said.

Another weekend event will be the organization’s first film festival. The event will take place on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Kitteridge Auditorium.

‘The film festival will include a trilogy of homeless activism films,’ Crowder said.

Habitat for Humanity was established at SU and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 1991 to help make a difference in the Syracuse community. Since its inception, students have completed over 4,000 hours of volunteer work for Syracuse homes.

Most recently, Habitat has sponsored a home for a woman and her three children in South Syracuse, Crowder said.

Crowder said interested students who want to find ways to participate in Habitat’s programs can visit their Web site at www.su-esf-habitat.org and become a part of their listserv.

Some new members in Habitat say they feel that events like Habifest are not only an educational event, but an enjoyable experience as well.

‘There are so many people sleeping without homes and (Habifest) demonstrates how many people live without homes,’ said Jessica Mischke, a recent member of Habitat and a sophomore music education major.

‘(Habifest) is going to be fun,’ Mischke said. ‘It’s with a great group of people.’

Published on April 1, 2004 at 12:00 pm