WMBD/WYZZ - Canton - A group in Canton will be spreading awareness about poverty and homelessness by becoming homeless for a day, and the whole community is joining in.

The Spoon River College chapter of Habitat for Humanity is holding its 7th annual “24 Hours of Homelessness” this Thursday.

Individuals will spend the night in a “shanty town” to raise money for Habitat. Local officials are even competitively raising money to see who will be homeless for the day.

The pairing should bring more awareness about the Habitat program locally.

“We have a number of people in Fulton County that would absolutely qualify for a Habitat Home,” says Jeanine Standard-Bloyd, faculty advisor for the Spoon River College chapter of Habitat for Humanity. “We have built ten in Fulton County, but we are often having a difficulty finding the families to apply.”

“24 Hours of Homelessness” kicks off this Thursday at noon at Jones Park on the square in Canton.