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"Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 4, 2000 - 3 Coming to Port Perry United Church Sunday 'Maze' gives insights on homelessness By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Residents are invited to walk in the shoes of the homeless this weekend, when a unique demon- stration is held at Port Perry United Church. The Maze, a presenta- tion which accurately reflects the experience of being homeless, will be set up at the church this coming Sunday evening. Presented by the Cornerstone Community Association, the maze will require participants to assume the role of home- less people, and visit the various agencies and ser- vices one encounters in attempting to get off the streets, and into a home. They will literally go from room to room in the church, jumping through the administrative hoops that real homeless people face. Roles of welfare work- ers, shelter staff and other characters are played by people who are now or have been homeless. It's hoped the exercise will not only inform peo- ple about homelessness, but also to spur them to take action on the issue, said Rod Friesen, program director with Cornerstone. "The maze project is really an attempt at com- munity economic devel- opment," said Mr. Friesen, explaining that actors are paid, and that Cornerstone hopes to establish the maze as a means of eventually help- ing participants re-enter the work force. "It's a way for them to tell their story, and for people to understand how difficult it has been for them," he said. "This has the potential to really grow beyond what we're doing here in Oshawa; we have a story to tell." It is hoped that after Thieves leave truck up in the air Employees at Scugog Chrysler in Manchester were surprised one morn- ing last week when they arrived to work and found a 2000 Dodge truck up on blocks and missing all four tires. Durham Police report that sometime between 8 p.m. on March 30 and 9 a.m. on March 31 thieves took four cast-aluminum wheels and tires. The wheels and tires stolen from the pickup are valued at more than $2,500, say police. SCUGOG'S PREMIER GOLF FACILITY OPENING this Saturday, April 8/2000 Practice Facility Opening Fall 2000! OAKRIDGE GOLF CLUB 4 KM. NORTH OF ASHBURN off Ashburn Rd. & follow the signs EMAIL: info@oakridgegolfonline.com __ WEBSITE: www.oakridgegolfonline.com ¥ [gna Info Call: Tee Times (905) 985-8390 (905) 649-6212 experiencing the hard- ships and heartbreak of real homeless people, participants will take action by writing to politi- cians and urging action on the issue, or even helping to bring about the cre- ation of affordable hous- ing in their communities, said Mr. Friesen. Linda Dignem is orga- nizing the maze's visit to _ Port Perry United Church ~ Sunday (April 9). She said that while the problem of homelessness isn't nec- essarily all that evident in this community, it's important that people be aware that it exists - and how easily illness, unem- ployment or other factors could force almost any- one onto the street, very suddenly. "I would say there's a great misunderstanding," said Mrs. Dignem. "1 don't think we have any under- standing of what it's like." Mrs. Dignem is hoping the church's presentation of the maze will raise awareness among partici- pants, and coax them to do their part to confront the issue of homeless- ness. . "It will be (successful) if there's increased awareness," she said. "Also, .we're hoping people will be so enlight- ened, aware - enraged, perhaps - that at the end of the evening they'll want to take some action." Organizers are requesting that anyone interested in participat- ing in the maze register before hand. Please call 985-9211. Cost is $8 per person. "SPRING/SUMMER 2000 MEN Ba K ; (yoy y (Jucecen Street 9005-85 BR&ECKS | (i foryorl