Homeward Bound Greater Lafayette is more than doubling its fundraising goal this year. The 5K walk to provide housing and fight homelessness raised $42,000 last year.
Jennifer Layton with Lafayette Transitional Housing says the target is $100,000 this year.
“We have a huge goal and, unfortunately, the goal is trying to match what we need. So, we really, really need our community to be interested in homelessness, to be interested in what we can do to actually help folks who need our help.”
She says more people are looking for help. Layton points to the slow economic recovery and unemployment around 9% as some reasons.
“Things are starting to look up a little bit,” she says. “But when I say ‘look up,’ I mean that people are getting some entry-level positions and, quite frankly, the minimum wage is not enough to be able to afford housing.”
Homeward Bound Greater Lafayette is Sunday, April 7, at Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the walk kicks-off at 2 p.m. More information is HERE.