What is the Sleep Out?
For one night, community leaders, board members and partners of the Homeless ID Project will sleep outside; not as a stunt, but to raise awareness of one of the most overlooked barriers to ending homelessness: access to identification.
Without an ID, people cannot:
• Apply for jobs
• Secure housing
• Access healthcare
• Enter treatment programs
• Receive essential services
This overnight event honors the legacy of our founder and calls attention to a growing crisis: rising unsheltered homelessness combined with shrinking resources.
Why This Matters Now
In 1987, Rev. Gerald Roseberry spent a month living among people experiencing homelessness in Phoenix and Tucson. By assuming the identity of someone without housing, he discovered a critical truth:
Lack of personal identification was one of the biggest barriers preventing people from rebuilding their lives.
That insight led to the founding of the Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless in 1988, which is now the Homeless ID Project.
Today, that same barrier still exists, but the consequences are more severe than ever….
- Unsheltered homelessness in Maricopa County has risen sharply
- Demand for ID services continues to increase
- Over 60+ organizations across Arizona require IDs to begin their programs
- Public and grant funding is declining
The Sleep Out Event is our way of saying: homelessness is not inevitable and solutions start with something as basic as an ID.
What Will Happen During the Night
From sunset to sunrise, we’ll be sharing real stories, conversations, and perspectives from people on the front lines of homelessness.
🎥 LIVE throughout the night on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, featuring:
- Board members and community leaders
- Service providers and advocates
- Reflections on homelessness, dignity, and solutions
- Calls to action you can participate in from anywhere
Below is an interview with Carrie Masters, CEO of St. Joseph the Worker, an organization that sees firsthand how access to identification opens the door to employment, housing, and long-term stability.
There are 3 ways to participate in the Sleep Out:
- Attend the Kickoff Event at Culdesac Tempe by making a donation of your choice
- Participate in the Sleep Out Event itself
- Sponsor the Sleep Out
Want to attend the Kickoff Event? Fill out the form below…
Arizona taxpayers: You can use the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit and receive your donation back when you file, at no net cost to you.
Sponsor the Sleep Out
Sponsorships help underwrite the event and directly fund ID services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Sponsors help ensure this night translates into real action the next morning. Benefits include:
- Public recognition before, during, and after the event
- Logo or name inclusion on event materials
- Social media mentions and live-stream acknowledgments
- Direct impact: funding real IDs for real people
Interested in sponsoring? Contact Rick Mitchell by EMAIL or call 602-223-3427
Frequently asked questions
The Sleep Out is an annual fundraising & awareness event hosted by the Homeless ID Project. Participants spend 1 night outdoors to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing people experiencing homelessness while raising funds to help provide IDs & birth certificates.
The Kickoff Reception is a gathering before the Sleep Out where participants, sponsors, and supporters come together to learn more about the mission, hear impact stories, and prepare for the event. There's no cost to attend or obligation to donate.
No, the Kickoff event is an opportunity for the public to join us for an evening of food, community, and inspiration as we hear stories of lives changed through the power of identification and learn how together we can help people take the first step toward stability.
Without an ID, people often cannot access jobs, housing, healthcare, treatment programs, or other services that help them exit homelessness. The Sleep Out raises awareness of this often-overlooked barrier and funds the solutions that remove it.
You can register as a Sleep Out participant & commit to raising $1,000 to help provide IDs, birth certificates & secure document storage for people working to exit homelessness. Your fundraising efforts help open doors to employment, housing, healthcare, & recovery.
The Sleep Out is both an awareness and fundraising event. The fundraising commitment helps ensure meaningful impact while empowering participants to engage their friends, family, coworkers, and community in the cause.
Yes. Businesses and organizations can sponsor the Sleep Out and demonstrate their commitment to helping individuals and families overcome homelessness. Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels. Interested in sponsoring? Contact Rick Mitchell at 602-223-3427
No. You can support the event by: • Making a donation • Sponsoring a participant • Becoming an event sponsor • Attending the Kickoff Reception • Volunteering Every contribution helps.
