BRISBANE’S business and community leaders stepped out of their comfort zones to sleep rough on the floor of a former homeless men’s hostel for Vinnies’ CEO Sleepout, which raised more than $1.1 million for homelessness support services.
Around 200 local leaders spent the night at Vinnies Queensland’s South Brisbane Men’s Hostel, a place of shelter and support for the local homelessness community for nearly 40 years before its recent decommission.
Among them was first time participant and Urban 3mpire chief executive officer Aaron McCauley, whose first sleepout was a reminder of how far he has come.
“Just a few years ago, at the end of 2017, I fell in with the wrong crowd and ended up losing nearly everything,” he said.
“I was homeless, sleeping in my car and too afraid and embarrassed to ask for help.
“I’ve come to terms with what I’ve been through and I’m so grateful to have made it out – but tonight was a real reminder that there are still thousands out there who still don’t have a place to call home.”
Vinnies Queensland chief executive officer Kevin Mercer said the $1,168,000 raised from the Sleepout would go towards vital homelessness support for some of Queensland’s most vulnerable residents.
“As our state has been hit hard by the affordable housing shortage over the last year, it has been a critical and challenging time for our crisis accommodation and homelessness support services,” Mr Mercer said.
“While the South Brisbane Men’s Hostel has served the community for nearly 40 years, we are moving to a new support model that will provide better holistic support and better connect people with their communities.
“The funds raised tonight will help us provide dignified, safe and supported housing to Queenslanders without a home or support them in the transition to homes in the social or private sector.
“On behalf of Vinnies Queensland and the people we support, I would like to thank everyone who participated in or donated to this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout – the funds will really make a difference.”
On the Gold Coast, another group of CEOs raised a new record $615,000 for homelessness support services.
Now in its fifth year at the Gold Coast, last night’s Sleepout reached the highest donation amount yet, smashing its fundraising target of $500,000.
Marymount College leadership team represented by principal Chris Noonan, deputy Geoff Browne, assistant principal pastoral Vivian Savage, and assistant principal religious education Dolores Maitland participated at the Gold Coast sleepout.
The Marymount Community supported them and together raised more than $16,500 for homelessness on the Gold Coast.
Mr Noonan said it was a good night and a privilege to represent the generosity of the Marymount community.
“Vinnies Gold Coast looked after us with mild weather, cardboard bedding, cuppas and soup, as well as a program of speakers, interviews, Fast Art and auctions,” he said.
Ms Savage said as well as the fundraising side for essential services, the team heard from people with lived experience of homelessness and learned about the factors that contribute to the growing number of people facing housing instability, particularly in today’s housing climate.
“It was heart-breaking to hear people describe how they have been treated and the stigma attached to homelessness,” she said.
“I feel like we are now ambassadors for Vinnies and the homeless and it was a privilege to answer student’s questions in class and talk about what we had learnt from the night.
“It was a very humbling experience and made me realise that ‘we can all do more’.
“We are already making plans for our 2022 sleepout.”
Gold Coast executive officer Kris Martin said the money raised from the event would help Vinnies to support residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness to find homes, provide clothes, food and other essential items and deliver ongoing support.
“As our community leaders braved the cold last night, there are Gold Coast residents who slept safe and warm in their beds thanks to the support this event provides,” Mr Martin said.
“Our housing situation has been especially tough lately as the Gold Coast has been hit hard by the state’ affordable housing shortage, with rental vacancy rates below 1 per cent across the region.
“The support of all our participants and donors for this year’s Sleepout will go a long way in supporting those facing or experiencing homelessness to find a warm, safe place to sleep at night and provide ongoing support as they transition away from life on the streets.”
