Tonight, May 4 鈥� under what could be some of the worst conditions homeless have to face in Vancouver 鈥� 91原创 mother Chelsea Minhas, is sleeping outside for one night to raise $150,000 for Covenant House, an organization that helps homeless young people get off the streets and on to independence.

Along with 48 other Lower Mainland moms, Minhas has chosen to participate in Sleep Out: Mothers Edition, a fundraiser that will see moms with only a piece of cardboard for a bed and a sleeping bag to keep her warm.

鈥淚 will sleep outside for one night in solidarity with those youth who may face many more cold, lonely nights until they find their way through the doors of Covenant House Vancouver. Sounds crazy, right? Not nearly as crazy as this: close to 1,500 homeless youth will turn to Covenant House for help this year; 70 per cent have witnessed family violence, 50 per cent are living with an addiction, 43 per cent have been in foster care, 39% are living with a diagnosed mental illness, and at least 30% have been involved in the sex trade,鈥� writes Minhas on her fundraising page.

鈥淎s a mother to a beautiful five year old girl, I cannot imagine this life for my child or anyone else. But, together we can make a lasting impact in the lives of the youth at Covenant House and change the path of their lives forever.鈥� So far, Minhas has raised more than $1,300 towards her goal of $3,000. Help her reach her goal

Because Covenant House is 90 per cent privately funded, the Sleep Out is vital both from a fundraising and awareness-building perspective. Covenant House Vancouver provides shelter, food, clothing and counseling to 1,400 young people each year through its Daily Drop-In, street outreach, and residential programs.