‘Sleep Out’ event provides shelter and education on homelessness

Tyrone Baldwin is homeless and was in his tent on Milwaukee’s north side in early 2025 when a wet, heavy snow caused his tent poles to break. The tent collapsed, and he no longer had a functional shelter.

“The tents are not very strong and durable to handle the snow,” Baldwin said. “So, there’s snow on there and you’re not trying to keep coming out in the cold to dust off snow.”

The lack of durability with temporary housing, such as tents, is a source of frustration for many homeless individuals, said Baldwin. Often, people who are homeless decide to sleep in doorways, parking garages or laundromats, where they can reliably escape the winter weather, Baldwin said.

To address this, Christal West, a local organizer and chair of housing and economic development for Amani United, organizes regular “Sleep Outs” — two-week-long events featuring inflatable pop-up shelters for those experiencing homelessness, free food and activities.

An important feature of the Sleep Out events is the tents, which are inflatable and less likely to collapse in heavy rain, snow or other adverse weather conditions, according to West.

West and her team at Amani United are hosting the final Sleep Out of the year at 2444 North 21st St. from Thursday, Nov. 20, through Thursday, Dec. 4.  The event will officially kick off with a block party on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be games, a horse, food and giveaways, according to West.

In addition to giving people a temporary place to stay during the two weeks, the Sleep Out events invite nearby neighbors to learn about homelessness. The group also hosts demonstrations on outdoor cooking, survival skills and general health and wellness, according to the Amani United website.

Supporting the city’s homeless community

West began her work with the homeless around 2015. She and her husband, Jarvis West, would sleep outside in garbage bins, cardboard boxes and sometimes under semitruck trailers to understand the struggles of what it meant to live without shelter.

According to HUD data, about 3,200 people in Wisconsin experienced homelessness in 2024, nearly 300 more than the previous year. While the state’s homeless population grew, Milwaukee’s population declined from 1,056 in 2023 to 885 in 2024 – a 16% decrease.

She discovered there was a need for more reliable places where homeless people could rest their heads — especially those who prefer to stay outside rather than in shelters.

Those sleeping outside in tents face the constant threat of their shelter collapsing under the weight of snow or rain, especially in the winter months.  Baldwin, who is currently homeless, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that high winds can also cause a tent to collapse.

If a tent pole breaks, then “that’s it,” Baldwin said. “You can’t fix it.”

The inflatable tents used during the Sleep Out event are less prone to collapse and can be patched should they become damaged, according to West.

West began purchasing inflatable tents to provide extra shelter to people experiencing homelessness in 2018.

She currently has a total of 10 inflatable tents available for overnight stays and can house dozens of people overnight.

Each tent costs over $500 and is handicap accessible and can be fitted with beds and other amenities to fit the needs of whoever is using the space.

West said she plans to eventually purchase vacant lots from the city, where she can permanently set up the tents to provide shelter for those in need.

In the meantime, she said she recently ordered four more tents and hopes to incorporate them into future Sleep Out events.

As the weather cools and the region prepares for a possible return of Arctic air and lake-effect snow, Baldwin said he does not have a concrete plan for the cold nights ahead.

He is taking things one day at a time.

Individuals who are homeless in Milwaukee can call 211 to find available shelter, meal programs and other social services. The help line is available 24/7.

Everett Eaton covers Harambee, just north of downtown Milwaukee, for the Journal Sentinel’s Neighborhood Dispatch. Reach him at [email protected].

April Quevedo covers Metcalfe Park for the Journal Sentinel’s Neighborhood Dispatch. Reach her at [email protected].

As part of the newsroom, all of April and Everett’s work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ‘Sleep Out’ event provides shelter and education on homelessness

Reporting by Everett Eaton and April Quevedo, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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