People from around the Tri-State willingly spent “A Night Without A Home” Friday during the fourth annual event hosted by the Shelter of Hope in Ashland, Ky.

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness to the issues of homelessness, as well as what causes people to end up without a place to call home. The event, which also features guest speakers, has been growing each year.

“We’ve continued to grow,” Candy Goldie, community relations coordinator for the Shelter of Hope, said. “Every year more and more people come out and get a small taste of what homelessness can be like.”

There isn’t much to the event, other than showing up and giving up the simple comforts of home, like heat, for a night.

“It’s a real stripped down event,” Goldie said. “But that is what homelessness is, it’s a real stripped down, hard life that is a reality for a lot of people.”

Weather Friday night was damp and cold but Goldie said it was actually the warmest night they’ve had for the event. Participants were also asked to bring toiletry items to donate to the shelter.