Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep at night
On Thursday 18 June, thousands of people across Australia will be sleeping without shelter on one of the coldest nights of the year.
For a select few, this will not be by choice. Our CEO Andrew Roberts will be one of those people, choosing to sleep without cover inside Perth Zoo to raise awareness and funds for those in need as part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
The CEO Sleepout shines a light on the harsh realities of homelessness and near-homelessness in our community and helps source much-needed funds to break the cycle of poverty and fund Vinnies’ important work.
Why the CEO Sleepout matters to us
On Census night in 2021, the ABS estimated that over 122,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Australia.
Some were sleeping ‘rough’ in tents, improvised dwellings or outside exposed to the elements. Others were in staying in temporary accommodation, severely crowded spaces, sleeping in their cars or couch-surfing. And countless others were at risk of homelessness; one rent increase, family emergency or job loss way from losing their accommodation.
As a leader in the Australian building industry, we’re acutely aware of the growing challenges so many have in accessing stable housing, let alone home ownership. Over the past five years since the last census, those stats have not changed and generally gotten worse.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The CEO Sleepout is one of the key fundraising campaigns for Vinnies, helping to fund the important work they do for the homeless and near homeless. It’s why we’re proud to stand behind Andrew in supporting this important cause for our eighth year.
This is a cause we care deeply about and continue to champion. Over the years, our employees, friends, partners and suppliers have given generously and raised over $432,000 to help Vinnies provide food, accommodation and essential services for people in need.
The Sleepout is not just an opportunity for us to support an impactful charity but also raise awareness across ABN Group, our industry and our communities about the harsh realities of homelessness in Australia.
If you are able to donate and support the cause, we encourage you to give generously.
