With homelessness becoming an unwelcome reality for many on the Sunshine Coast, members of the Sunshine Coast Business Council are gearing up to raise awareness and funds for the most vulnerable in the community.
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout on June 22 will raise urgent financial support to provide accommodation, food and essential services for the estimated more than 1650 people experiencing homelessness on the Sunshine Coast each night.
SCBC chair Sandy Zubrinich said she was looking forward to this year’s event, taking place outside the Maroochy Surf Club, where it is expected representatives of local businesses, community members and leaders will spend a night with just a sleeping bag, a sheet of cardboard, a cup of soup and slice of bread.
“The Sleepout isn’t easy, as we are all used to our nice beds and warm doonas, but nothing can give you a better idea of what homeless people deal with every night than sleeping rough yourself – and then thinking about the long-term impact that would have when you’re doing it night after night,” Ms Zubrinich said.
“Vinnies tell us that requests for homelessness support increased 22 per cent in the last five years in Queensland – nearly three times the national average – and, with the number of people moving here and limited availability of affordable accommodation, that number will just continue to rise.
“We have men, women, youths and young children homeless on the Sunshine Coast every day and raising money for them is very much worth one cold and uncomfortable night. All funds raised will go towards providing emergency accommodation for local families who would otherwise be sleeping rough.
“The Sunshine Coast Business Council is very proud to support this important initiative. Our team’s target is to raise $50,000, up 25 per cent from the $40,000 we raised in 2019, and every dollar counts towards helping local people get off the streets.
“However, numbers registering to sleep out for Vinnies and our regional homeless this year are unexpectedly low and with barely a month to go, the business council is calling on our members and those of the various chambers of commerce to join the team and help out. And if you can’t sleep out yourself, then please support someone who has registered to do so.
“We need to do all we can to reach our target of $50,000 and we have a very long way to go.”
Matt Byrne from Stockland, one of the participants and supporters of the event, believes it’s crucial for businesses to support local initiatives that make a tangible difference in the community.
“Several members of the Stockland Sunshine Coast team have participated in the Sleepout for many years as part of this great Vinnies initiative to raise funds for those finding themselves without a roof over their head in our region,” he said.
“We believe that this event is a small way to give back to help keep individuals and families off the streets while we all continue working towards more sustainable solutions for housing options to prevent homelessness in our region.”
To support the Sunshine Coast Business Council team donate at https://shorturl.at/rvFQU.
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