WATERLOO — Justin Chan saw the same people in downtown Toronto as he walked to his co-op job last winter. They were homeless, probably cold and almost always there.

"It started hurting me, I felt like I knew them," Chan said.

So one day he just went up to someone and asked: "how is your day going?"

He met Jeremy, a man who had been homeless for about a year, and heard his story.

"He said the hardest part about being homeless is the fact that he was ignored by people," Chan recalled.

That's where Chan got the idea for Homeless in Waterloo, an online project documenting stories about the region's homeless on Facebook and Twitter.

The fourth-year Wilfrid Laurier University business student launched the project in March when he returned to the region from his co-op work term in Toronto.

Chan wants to put stories behind the region's homeless population and wants everyone to just get to know them.

For several hours a week, Chan and a small group of student volunteers walk around with snacks and water bottles and just talk to people who may be experiencing homelessness.

Chan's met people from as far away as Nova Scotia. Some who say they fell on hard times and others who struggled with substance abuse. Some are no longer homeless but remember what it was like.

Chan said from his experience so far, many of the stories share a common thread.

"A lot of them involve family," Chan said. "A lot of these stories, they do turn to drugs and alcohol."

But there is no judgment, only kindness and friendship. Chan wants to create lasting relationships with the people he talks to.

Homeless in Waterloo has shared 10 stories so far and the group follows up with each person either daily or as often as possible.

Some are transitioning from homelessness and have cellphones, the group connects with others by leaving messages on community boards at The Working Centre.

Even if the followup is just taking someone out for coffee, Chan said it's important to stay connected.

"We've provided optimism and hope, which is something some of these people have never had."

While Chan said they never pressure anyone to share their stories, many people usually feel comfortable to share them.

And those stories have resonated with thousands of people throughout the region.

Strangers have offered donations of food and clothing to the people whose stories have been shared online.

Someone even offered a room in their own house to one of the people Chan featured in April.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

As the project continues to grow, Chan hopes to connect with local businesses and organizations to help his team help the homeless.

"It's been really accepted in our community."

To learn more about Homeless in Waterloo, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HomelessinWaterloo or Twitter at www.twitter.com/HomelessinKW.