Club Leaders Sleep Rough to Support Those Facing Homelessness

Sadly, on any given night in Australia there are more than 122,000 people experiencing homelessness — and one in seven are children.

There are an estimated 35,000 homeless people in NSW alone, and alarmingly that number has increased by 27 per cent in the last decade.

With cost-of-living pressures showing no signs of abating and the country experiencing a housing crisis, many more people are expected to fall through the cracks.

For almost two decades, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout has aimed to raise awareness and funds in support of homelessness and housing services. The one-night event is held on one of the longest and coldest nights of the year, with hundreds of CEOs, business owners, and community and government leaders sleeping outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness.

Over its 19-year history, the initiative has raised a total of more than $91 million, with more than $8.3 million raised so far this year alone.

Among those sleeping out in the cold conditions this year was Roosters CEO Joe Kelly, who initially set himself a fundraising target of $20,000. Thanks to donors who included the likes of Roosters Chairman Nick Politis and NRL Head Coach Trent Robinson, he managed to raise $33,609.

“This is a beautiful city, but we also have a growing crisis in terms of homelessness,” said Mr Kelly.

“It’s only one night of the year, but it’s a small snippet into the lives of the 35,000 people that are homeless across NSW right now.”

In a true show of support across the club industry, Joe also received donations from the likes of Revesby Workers Club CEO Scott Bennetts and Wests Illawarra CEO Danny Munk.

It was especially generous of Danny, considering he’s no stranger to the CEO Sleepout — this year marked 10 years as a participant, raising $40,667 this time around. In fact, in the decade that Danny’s participated, he’s raised a staggering $295,574.

“Homelessness can affect anyone, and we all have a role to play in helping those who find themselves without a home to get back on their feet,” he told the Region Illawarra publication. 

“I am proud to have participated in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout for a decade and appreciate the contributions the Illawarra community have made to my fundraising efforts. Together we can support those who need access to food and a warm place to sleep.”

Also taking part this year was Club Sapphire CEO Damien Foley, who said even if he could help just one person doing it tough by taking part then it would be worth it.

And harnessing the CEO Sleepout concept, other clubs have implemented their own initiatives to specifically help organisations in their local communities.

This includes Workers Blacktown’s CEO and Co Winter Sleepout, which this year was in aid of Alice’s Support Services, providing support to families that are homeless or at risk of homelessness and experiencing mental health issues.

Along with the enormous amount of funding contributed annually through ClubGRANTS, it’s clear that NSW clubs have firmly prioritised helping to put an end to the rising level of homelessness.