St Vincent de Paul society launched its 2017 Vinnies CEO Sleepout last week and asked the WA community to help improve awareness about homelessness.
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held on June 22 and is designed to get community leaders to front the push to improve the lives of those who sleep rough.
St Vincent de Paul Society’s acting executive officer Adele Stewart said she was hoping business leaders would raise money for the issue and become advocates for change after the event was over.
“On any given night in WA over 9500 people are experiencing homelessness,” she said.
“Alarmingly 25 per cent are under the age of 18.
“Growing unemployment, domestic violence, family breakdown and housing stress are major causes, proving that homelessness can happen to anyone at any time.”
Ernest Ng is the executive officer at Austpro Properties in Cannington and is participating in the sleepout.
Mr Ng said as a person who sold homes for a living it was an issue he could not ignore.
“Homelessness is a serious problem in this state due to the economic downturn,” he said.
“We rent properties to people and we sell homes to the community. We do realise that home ownership is something that is really important to look at.
“It’s something that needs to be looked at so people can rent and afford properties.”
Mr Ng launched his campaign last weekend and was hoping to get as much exposure as possible.
He said he had not yet prepared himself for the night out and hoped there would be no rain but would be bringing a jacket and a sleeping bag as the bare minimum.
He said he would get some colleagues to go along so that the event was a team effort.
“Homes and having a place to stay is a really basic need. If you can address the problem then there’s something.”
“Having somewhere to stay and having somewhere to live is important. It’s something society must look at to help homeless people out.”
Mr Ng’s fundraising target was $5000 but when asked if he was confident he would reach it he said he could not give any assurances.
“We will try,” he said.
To donate to the 2017 Vinnies CEO Sleepout visit ceosleepout.org.au.
