CREDIT: JESS SHIELDS PHOTOGRAPHY
Last year's cardboard condo raised awareness about homelessness in London.

October 10 is World Homeless Action Day, an international event that aims to draw attention to people living without homes. It's also meant to encourage communities around the globe to get involved and to do something to eliminate homelessness.

Locally, the London Homelessness Outreach Network is "thinking outside the cardboard box" once again this year. Last year, the group built a cardboard condo in the Museum London parking lot. This year, they're thinking even bigger, creating an entire cardboard town on the St. Paul's Cathedral lawn, with help from London Homeless Coalition, St. Paul's Cathedral and St Peter's Cathedral Basilica. Local business and non-profit organizations are encouraged to sponsor a box, and will be asked to have their staff come down at some point during the day to decorate it.

"The purpose last year, and again this year, is to think about truly ending homelessness, which means helping people become rehoused," states the London Homelessness Outreach Network website. "We use cardboard as a theme to engage people in the conversation, but the ultimate goal is something better."

All the money that is raised will go to the Homeless Memorial project by the London Homeless Coalition. The project will pay tribute to those who have died on the streets of London.

The London Homelessness Outreach Network is always open to anyone who is interested in joining the group. For more information, email Abe Oudshoorn at aoudsho@uwo.ca or call 519-661- 2111 x 86042. If you do not have access to email or a phone, you can connect with Henry or Leanna at the London InterCommunity Health Centre.

For more information about World Homeless Action Day, visit worldhomelessday.org.