Participants across Greater Sydney will sleep out at Western Sydney University – Parramatta South Campus on Friday 29 August, with funds raised from the event remaining in the local community to support the work of local services operated by the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.
“As we mark Homelessness Week and the theme ‘Homelessness Action Now’, it’s important for everyone to recognise the scale of homelessness and how we can all play a part in ensuring support is available in times of need,” said Louis Hearnden, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Regional Director – Metropolitan.
“The NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout aims to inform people about homelessness on a large scale, while also bringing the issue down to the local level to show how everyone could be without a safe place to live.”
Nearly 40,000 people were supported by St Vincent de Paul Society NSW members in the Sydney metropolitan region over the past year with nearly 70% of people seeking food assistance and one in three people accessing assistance for the first time
“Close to half of the people reaching out to our members across Greater Sydney over the last year experienced housing stress.
“By supporting people through an early intervention approach, we can help to prevent people from becoming homeless by connecting them with support in the local community before it becomes a major crisis.
“Taking part in the NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout is a tangible action everyone can take to recognise the challenges that exist in the local community and play a part in supporting people facing hardship,” said Mr Hearnden.
Funds raised from the night will remain in Greater Sydney, enabling the work of Society NSW members, support centres and vans across the region.
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW members assisted over 100,000 people across the state during the last financial year.
Donate at www.vinnies.org.au/communitysleepout
