Over 130 local leaders raised more than $780,000 in the 2023 Vinnies CEO Sleepout last night to support homelessness programs in the region. These funds will be used to support the delivery of Vinnies specialist homelessness services and to provide emergency assistance with rent, food, medical and fuel bills to many at risk of homelessness.
Surrounded by the word ‘home’ in 100 different languages and armed with a cardboard sheet, a sleeping bag and warm clothing, the local leaders slept rough at the National Museum of Australia’s Garden of Australian Dreams to raise funds for those who don’t have a safe place to call home.
Many leaders also slept in their cars, couches, or offices across the region and participated virtually via live stream.
Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn CEO, Lucy Hohnen thanked “the generosity and solidarity of our participants, community, and sponsors for helping raise these much-needed funds”.
“There is a real crisis out there and we need each dollar raised to help those experiencing the toughest of times,” Ms Hohnen said.
“On top of the people we have always supported, we are now supporting a new cohort, those with jobs and, in some cases, mortgages, who simply can’t make ends meet.
We are seeing a steep upward trajectory in the number of people coming to Vinnies for help.”
The top three fundraisers from the Sleepout in Canberra were:
1. Neville Tomkins – Chief Commissioner, Scouts Australia (NSW Branch)
2. Lucy McCallum – Chief Justice at ACT Supreme Court
3. Mirko Milic – Dealer Principal at Canberra Toyota
The top fundraising team on the night was awarded to team Canberra Toyota. Four members of the team were Mirko Milic, Sia Soliola, Nathan Volke and Stephen Cenatiempo.
Last night, with just some soup and bread rolls for dinner and the overnight temperature dropping to 6 degrees (a welcome 13 degrees warmer than the minus-7 degrees just two days earlier), the local participants had a small taste of the harsh realities of homelessness. Among them were two prominent leaders, Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister of Charities, and Lucy McCallum, ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice, who participated for the first time.
A cross-section of the Canberra community took part, including first responders, café owners, consultants, community organisations, government departments and media representatives.
Apart from raising funds by sleeping rough, participants listened to the real-life stories of people who have experienced homelessness and participated in an activity called ‘Crisis of the Australian Dream’ organised by Vinnies front-line services teams to bring home the reality of tough choices people make every night to survive.
As homelessness is becoming an unwelcoming reality for many in the Far South Coast, Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn organised a physical Sleepout at the Merimbula Basketball courts for the first time. Three participants faced the cold and raised over $30,000, those funds going to help those less fortunate in their NSW South Coast community.
“Lastly, a big thank you to National Museum of Australia for hosting Vinnies CEO Sleepout for the fourth time,” said Ms Hohnen.
Fundraising for the 2023 Vinnies CEO Sleepout will continue until 31 July. To donate to one of the local leaders’ efforts, visit www.ceosleepout.org.au/event/act
