Photos provided to the Times Observer Tim Salapek slept outside on a snowy night recently as part of a corporate effort to raise awareness and funds to combat youth homelessness.

It’s one thing to know that homelessness is a problem in communities throughout the country — including locally — and raise awareness to the issue.

It’s another thing entirely to raise that awareness by experiencing what homelessness can look like directly.

Especially on a snowy, cold night.

But that was the experience of a Warren man seeking to raise awareness on the issue as part of a corporate campaign.

Tim Salapek said he currently works remotely for CISCO, which is headquartered in Silicon Valley and develops, manufactures and sells networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products.

Photos provided to the Times Observer

“I grew up in Warren but left the area after high school and college to pursue my career,” he said. “Fast forward after working for some major companies and startups, my junior high sweetheart — who was also from Warren — and I decided that Warren, which always remained in our hearts, was the place we wanted to finish our careers and retire!”

He probably didn’t suspect, though, that that would include sleeping in a tent at the outset of a northwestern Pennsylvania winter.

“I joined 550-plus of my business associates from around the world by sleeping outside to raise money and awareness to support the Covenant House, a nonprofit organization,” Salapek said.

The organization said it aims to empower “young people to overcome homelessness and trafficking by providing them with safe housing, food and clothing, and relentless support. In 31 cities and counting across the United States, Latin America, and Canada, young people are finding hope, strengthening their resilience, and making progress towards their goals with the help of Covenant House’s continuum of care, which includes job training, education opportunities, legal aid, health care, and mental health counseling as well as birthday parties, movie nights, and community meetings.”

It’s “more than just a shelter. Young people are welcomed with unconditional love and provided warm meals, education opportunities, job training, medical care, mental health and substance use counseling, and legal aid — essential services designed to help them build independent futures.”

The organization has two locations in Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia.

“Did you know that 4.2 million young people face homelessness each year? Youth homelessness was a crisis even before the pandemic, and it continues to be a growing issue,” Salapek said. “The good news? We can help!

“The Sleep Out helps and ensures that youth facing homelessness can sleep safely and dream big at Covenant House.”

“Warren is ranked one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania,” he added, “and is surely becoming more global every day!”