One Night Without a Home

About 40 community members slept in City Park on Friday to raise awareness about homelessness in Siloam Springs.

One Night Without a Home was sponsored by Genesis House and included a simple meal, a silent auction, live music and a program. It also served as a fundraiser, bringing in more than $13,000 for the non-profit.

Genesis House is a day shelter for the homeless and offers showers, laundry, limited meals, a mail drop, and telephone and email message services. It also provides counseling and connects people to a full range of available government and community non-profit agency resources, including employment services, according to the organization's website.

The program included testimonials from people who have experienced homelessness, as well as stories of people who have been helped by Genesis House.

Rose Sparrow, who performed for the program, said that nobody knows when they might end up needing assistance.

"You don't know when it's going to be your turn. You can work every day and then..." she said with shrug.

Corey Rhodes, Genesis House board president, explained that federal law defines homeless people as those who lack a fixed or regular nighttime residence, those who live in a shelter or who stay on the couch of a relative. The organization helps those who are in situational poverty from a job loss or medical problems, as well as those who suffer from generational poverty.

Between July 2015 and June 2016, Genesis House had more than 2,527 visits, including 945 from people who were homeless for the first time. More than 350 of those who were homeless for the first time were children.

For more information about Genesis House visit the organization's Facebook page or www.genesishousesiloam.com.