By Abbey Cannan
“Most people think the sand is soft, but it’s pretty hard when you’re sleeping on it every night”, was a sentiment that stuck with Sunshine Coast leaders at Thursday night’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
The 2023 Vinnies CEO Sleepout, including the Sunshine Coast team sleeping on the beach at Maroochy Surf Club, raised more than $1.8 million across the state for homelessness support.
After last year’s event I spoke with a single mum who was homeless in Noosa, and she laughed at the ‘gimmick’ of CEOs sleeping on the beach for one night, questioning how much of this money was actually going towards helping the homeless.
From someone who grew up with a single mum and at one point lived in a tent due to the rental crisis (although mum made it seem like a holiday at Hastings Point), I can understand why this woman I interviewed wasn’t thrilled with the idea of the charity event.
Participants get to go into the surf club for drinks, have security guards and medics on the beach all night, along with a volunteer team cooking them a bacon and egg breakfast, before going back to their fancy homes across the Sunshine Coast.
But by listening to people who’ve lived through the harsh realities of homelessness and seeing the way they have changed their lives thanks to Vinnies and these supporters on the beach, it’s easy to realise just how much of a difference that $1.8 million can make.
It’s people like Vinnies youth homeless support worker Dean Hanley and Beryl Rowan from St Vincent de Paul that put those donations into action by helping one person at a time on the Sunshine Coast.
“We refer to them as our companions because we’re here to give them a hand up, not a hand out,” Beryl said.
“We have on the coast 11 conferences ranging from Noosa down to Caloundra, and they’re made totally up of volunteers operating either as a support centre or completing home visits.
“The main reasons people contact us are housing, cost of living, and education, and we assist them in various ways.”
Dean Hanley, who experienced homelessness for the first 35 years of his life, now spends his days supporting 16-25 year olds on the Sunshine Coast.
“I’m meeting these young people who earn $500 a fortnight and are expected to live independently on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“On the Sunshine Coast, we have 10 beds and two youth shelters for all of the young people. I just do the big juggling act and work it out.”
Sunshine Coast Council chief executive officer Emma Thomas said over the last few years we had all become more aware of the increasing number of local residents and Australians experiencing tough times and at risk of finding themselves without a safe place to call home.
“This is the second time I’ve participated in this event, which is growing with more and more support each year,” Emma said.
“While we will experience one night, we are mindful of people who face uncertainty more often.
“Council is also preparing a Housing and Homelessness Action Plan which will outline actions to help address housing and homelessness on the Sunshine Coast.
“Our Sunshine Coast Council sleepout team raised more than $9360 and joined business, government and community leaders across Australia in sleeping out outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
“All funds raised will help Vinnies’ vital services stay up-and-running all year round. This includes food, accommodation, education, counselling, employment and health programs for our residents who are impacted by homelessness.”
During the event, the State Government announced a partnership with St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland to deliver more social homes for Queenslanders, but the Sunshine Coast seemed to miss out on the allocation of those homes.
It’s part of a record $5 billion for social and affordable housing – the largest investment in Queensland’s history – to help deliver 13,500 homes.
The new social homes include 27 in Newtown (Toowoomba), 60 in Walkervale (Bundaberg) and 60 in Nerang.
The projects will cost almost $71 million, with the government contributing $58.65 million and St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland contributing more than $12 million, including the land.
The funding is being contributed through the QuickStarts Qld program, with the projects being among 3265 homes to commence before 30 June, 2025.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said, “Partnerships with organisations such as St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland are key to our delivery of more social housing for Queenslanders in need.”
“What’s clear is all levels of government, industry and the community housing sector need to continue to work hand-in-hand to address national housing pressures as quickly as we can.”
Vinnies Queensland CEO Kevin Mercer said, “This partnership will allow us to provide a safe and secure place to call home for 147 Queensland families and individuals.”
All money raised from the CEO Sleepout will go to the St Vincent de Paul Society to support impacted Australians.
If you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause, please visit: ceosleepout.org.au/
If you are experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence you can call:
Housing Service Centre phone (07) 5352 7333
Homeless Hotline phone 1800 474 753
DVConnect phone 1800 811 811
