The 2024 Vinnies CEO Sleepout has raised $7.7 million nationally to combat homelessness, with 1,500 Australian leaders sleeping outside in the cold with no shelter for the cause.
Vinnies CEO Yolanda Saiz speaks about the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout which saw 1,500 CEOs and community leaders across the country spend last night outside in the cold.
Ms Saiz said there were about 300 leaders sleeping out in Sydney, with NSW raising $2.5 billion and Australia as a whole raising $7.7 million.
“It got pretty cold out there, particularly on the waterfront, I think at about 3am, you could here a few people starting to rustle as it just starts to get really uncomfortable, really cold,” she told Sky News Australia.
“But it’s really important to remember, as I told the audience last night, all of us, including myself, will get to go home tonight to a really warm bed, but for those 122,0000 people who are homeless across this country, they will be tonight wondering where they are going to sleep.”
The St Vincent de Paul Society launched the event in 2006 to raise awareness and funds to combat homelessness, with close to $100 million raised nationally over 18 years of the event.
On Thursday night, business and community leaders participated at sleepout events in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
Some 1,500 Australian leaders slept outside with no shelter last night for the 2024 Vinnies CEO Sleepout and raised $7.7 million nationally to support people in need. Picture: Supplied
Speaking to Sky News Australia First Edition host Peter Stefanovic on Saturday, Vinnies CEO Yolanda Saiz said the participants in Sydney, who rugged up in beanies and blankets, braved freezing temperatures for the cause at White Bay Cruise Terminal.
“Look. it got pretty cold out there particularly on the waterfront, I think about 3 am you could here a few people starting to rustle, as it just starts to get really uncomfortable, really cold,” she said.
“It’s really important to remember, as I told the audience last night, all of us including myself will get to go home tonight to a really warm bed.
“But for those 122,000 people who are homeless across this country, they will be tonight wondering where they’re going to sleep.”
Sky News host Paul Murray spoke to Sydney councillor Linda Scott, who said record numbers of people sleep on the streets of Sydney and right across the country.
From the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, City of Sydney Council Labor Councillor Linda Scott discusses what can be done to combat homelessness in Australia.
“We are really seeing record numbers of people sleeping on the streets of Sydney and right across the country,” Ms Scott told Sky News host Paul Murray.
“I’m hearing from regional mayors that people are sleeping rough for the first time ever in some of their towns and regional places.”
“I’m hearing from regional mayors that people are sleeping rough for the first time ever in some of their towns and regional places,” she said.
“Theres never been more demand on the services of Vinnies.”
Funds raised through the Vinnies CEO Sleepout will help St Vincent de Paul Society NSW assist people through crisis accommodation, domestic and family violence refuges, specialist healthcare, case management, support to secure and maintain tenancies, as well as Vinnies Vans.
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025 with pre-registrations now open.
Donations for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout remain open until July 31, with all donations over $2 tax deductible.