Sara Morris says sheSA国际影视传媒檚 never experienced homelessness and likely never will.

However, she says, SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to turn a blind eye to whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on around the city I live in and around the territory I live in.SA国际影视传媒�

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why the St. Patrick High School student became a youth ambassador for Raise the Roof, a national housing rights advocacy group, to raise money as part of its annual toque drive.

Morris says she learned about the youth-ambassador program through her schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 guidance counsellor.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really wanted to help and I really wanted to get involved,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen I found this program, it was great that I could do it in a way [where] the resources were provided so that I can help and really get active.SA国际影视传媒�

Raise the Roof has held the toque drive annually since 1997, where winter hats are sold to raise funds for local partner organizations across the country devoted to homelessness prevention and affordable housing. The event has raised more than $8 million in its 25 years of existence.

SA国际影视传媒淔or us, the toque is a sign of solidarity for those experiencing homelessness,SA国际影视传媒� says Christy Scott, a special-events co-ordinator with Raise the Roof.

Morris says $5 from each $15 toque sold will go to support Home Base, an organization that provides housing, food support, and other services to local youth.

This is the first time Raise the Roof has had a partner organization in the Northwest Territories.

Morris is hoping to get her whole school involved in this project: Her idea is to make teams out of each home room class who will compete to see who can raise the most funds, with a prize for the winning team. She is currently waiting for the school to approve her plan.

Projects like the toque drive are sorely needed in Yellowknife and across the country: SA国际影视传媒淓specially since March 2020 and the pandemic, homelessness has just skyrocketed, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 become a super dangerous and persistent problem,SA国际影视传媒� says Scott.

She cites a 2016 study by the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness that estimated that 235,000 people in Canada experience homelessness in a given year. However, this estimate likely doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 account for everyone who experiences homelessness, including those who are couch surfing and donSA国际影视传媒檛 use homeless shelters. SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 even get a full grasp on what the number even is,SA国际影视传媒� says Scott.

She says projects like the toque drive are an opportunity SA国际影视传媒淭o give those agencies and frontline workers as much support as they can get.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hey donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to do anything for it; They are doing everything they can doing their work.SA国际影视传媒�

Home BaseSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director, Tammy Roberts, says sheSA国际影视传媒檚 waiting for the project to be formally approved before commenting.