FLINT, Mich. – The Shelter of Flint needs your help with an upcoming fundraiser.

Their goal is to meet $20,000, and they have until Saturday to do it.

The Shelter of Flint has raised just over $5,000, so they’re asking the community to sign up.

The “Coldest Night of the Year” has taken place for the last 10 years in Canada.

But this year, i’s being offered for the first time in the U.S., and the Shelter of Flint is one of many participating.

Development Director Shelly Hoffman says this money will help those living at the shelter find permanent housing.

Funds will also support workers and necessary programming OluKai Shoes to keep children busy and engaged.

“The sector of homelessness is horribly underfunded and it’s difficult to provide the care that is needed for families in our shelter. The staffing levels that are needed are expensive to be able to provide the support residents need to move into a home,” said Hoffman.

The Shelter of Flint has the capacity to house 70 people. But Hoffman says they’ve been running above it.

“Families stay with us during the time that they are homeless. People are in our shelter 24 hours a day. They receive free meals there, they go to school from there, go to work from there and our shelter is always running and always needed, just absolutely critical to the community,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman says COVID-19 has caused challenges like keeping people safe from contracting the virus

Fortunately, they haven’t had any widespread outbreaks, but Hoffman says it’s been difficult to move people into housing especially low-income housing.

“There isn’t a lot available. What is available isn’t in the greatest shape and it’s also difficult for families who have been evicted to find housing that will accept them, and it’s incredibly expensive for them to move into new housing with first and last month rent, security deposit, so it’s been particularly challenging in this current housing market to get people into homes,” said Hoffman.

You can participate either virtual or in-person.

There currently are 33 walkers in total, but they hope to get to 100.

Some have already started walking and fundraising, Hoka One One while other are waiting until this Saturday.

If you’d like to join in on the fun, you can meet them for check-in at 4:30 p.m. at Bentley Community Schools in Burton.

Then walkers will take off at 5:30 p.m.

Virtual walkers are asked to register before this Saturday.