It was a year ago that Juanita Durik and her daughter, Gabrielle, were homeless, living with friends and scraping by to make ends meet.
The Duriks were two of hundreds of people who participated in a "tent city" Friday night and this morning by camping out on the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn.
Hundreds of Grace College students, people from community and local churches camped on the courthouse lawn to raise awareness about homelessness.
The event was organized by Fellowship Missions, a non-profit organization whose mission is to assist the broken and homeless in Kosciusko County.
It was the second year for the tent city. The event started at 7 p.m. Friday and ran until 7 a.m. today.
Juanita, a single mom, said she was having trouble making ends meet a year ago, and was evicted from her apartment.
"I had to pick up five part-time jobs at one time, and through the help of local service agencies was able to live in another apartment and get help with bills," Juanita said.
Juanita had been working odd jobs, and got a full- time job with benefits Friday.
"People need to be aware that there is a need for a permanent homeless shelter in this community, and realize those who are homeless here don't have the money to go to shelters in Fort Wayne and South Bend," Juanita said.
Gabrielle, 17, a student at Warsaw Community High School, said she has helped her mother by getting a job.
"I want to be able to make money to help my mom with bills," Gabrielle said.
Steven Bowers, 21, Warsaw, also camped out. He slept on a blanket and wore a sweatshirt to keep warm. Being homeless is not foreign to Bowers.
Bowers said he was homeless at age 17-1/2 when he dropped out of school after his sophomore year and moved out of his parents' home.
"I slept under trees in Warsaw and on park benches and with friends in the winter months, but got my GED at age 19," Bowers said.
He now lives with his sister, and plans to apply to Ivy Tech Community College in the spring.
Last year New Life Christian Church & World Outreach oversaw the tent city that was attended by 200 people.
John Lowe, New Life Christian Church & World Outreach pastor, said there is a low unemployment rate in Kosciusko County because of the diversity of work, but there is still homelessness.
"Unless homelessness doesn't touch a person's life they don't realize the pain that comes with being homeless," Lowe said.
People pitched tents and slept in cardboard boxes and on blankets Friday night.
Fellowship Missions is working to bring a permanent homeless shelter to Warsaw that is set to open in November.
There has been a temporary homeless shelter for the past two years in Warsaw. The shelter has previously been housed at New Life Christian Church and World Outreach, Salvation Army, Warsaw Community Church and Christ's Covenant Church.
Eric Lane, Fellowship Missions founder, started the organization in May.
The goal is to have a permanent shelter for the homeless in Kosciusko County, Lane said.Lane said the organization is working on finalizing plans to purchase an existing building in Warsaw for a permanent shelter with plans to renovate it and open in November.
"The vision here tonight is to draw attention that there is a need for a permanent shelter in our community," Lane said.
