The NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout is taking place tonight to raise funds for local services assisting people experiencing homelessness and hardship throughout the state.
Participants will sleep out in their cars, couches and backyards, while tuning into a live-stream hosted by Nine and 2GB presenter Deborah Knight.
More than 165 participants have raised over $95,000 so far which will enable local Vinnies services and programs to provide assistance with food, clothing, crisis accommodation, financial aid and other support. Help us reach our goal of $140,000.
Figures from the most recent 2016 Census revealed that on any given night, in excess of 116,000 people nationwide have no permanent home. In NSW the number of people experiencing homelessness increased by 37% from 2011-2016 to a total of 37,715.
People can donate to the NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout and watch the live stream beginning at 7.00pm (AEST) on Friday 23 October at www.vinnies.org.au/communitysleepout
NSW Vinnies Community Sleepouts will be held in Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Hill, Central Coast, Deniliquin, Fred’s Place – Tweed Heads, Maitland, Murrumbidgee, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and Western Sydney.
Young people from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Seven Hills, and The Good Shepherd Parish, Plumpton, are taking part in the Community Sleepout by hosting a combined Virtual Zoom meeting, with activities from 8.30pm tonight.
For more information, as well as links to donate to their campaigns, please visit their Facebook event.
With thanks to the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.
