As rental prices continue to soar and housing stress increases on the Sunshine Coast, Vinnies Queensland is urging business, community, and government leaders to step up and take part in the 2025 CEO Sleepout on 19 June.
The Sunshine Coast CEO Sleepout, now in its fourth year in the region, raises vital funds to provide emergency accommodation, food, groceries, and essential support to those facing homelessness and financial hardship
With average rents increasing by 6.3 per cent in 20241 — rising as high as 23.7 per cent in Noosa Heads — and a rental vacancy rate of just 0.9 per cent, more Sunshine Coast residents than ever are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
Funds raised from the Sunshine Coast event go directly towards resourcing for local Vinnies Members to provide community support, helping both those in crisis and working to keep the Sunshine Coast locals in their homes and avoiding homelessness.
The 2025 Sunshine Coast CEO Sleepout will take place on Thursday 19 June on the beach outside Maroochydore Surf Club, bringing together business and community leaders to spend a night on the sand without shelter, and raise awareness and funds for those doing it tough.
The official launch event for this year’s CEO Sleepout campaign will be held on Thursday 3 April at Maroochydore Surf Club — where local leaders and Sleepout participants will gather, and Vinnies Queensland will share new insights into the growing impact of housing stress in the region.
Ahead of the CEO Sleepout launch, Vinnies Sunshine Coast president, Beryl Rowan, urged local CEOs and business leaders to step up and sleep out.
“More and more Sunshine Coast locals are reaching out to us for help — these are people who are working hard just to get by,” Beryl said.
“In 2024 alone, Vinnies Queensland supported over 44,000 people across the Sunshine Coast—an increase of nearly 10 per cent from just two years ago.
“The cost of living and rent increases are pushing everyday people into crisis. For many, home ownership is out of reach, and even keeping a roof over their heads is a daily battle.”
“This is why the CEO Sleepout is so important. It’s a way for business leaders to come together, experience just a fraction of what so many are facing, and raise critical funds to keep people housed and supported,” she said.
In the last financial year, Vinnies QLD’s homelessness services provided more than 128,000 nights of accommodation for vulnerable Queenslanders and helped secure sustainable housing for more than 1300 people experiencing homelessness.
The funds raised from the CEO Sleepout are vital in ensuring we can keep up with the growing demand for support to ensure no Queenslander is left behind.
For more information or to register for the 2025 CEO Sleepout, visit www.ceosleepout.org.au.
