Sleeping on the streets Business leaders doing it rough to help others in need of a hand

from Cairns Local News August 4th 2023

Longest open ocean event

l CAIRNS CBD

| Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

WITH over 6000 people in Cairns on the list for social housing and a rampant housing crisis, Vinnies’ FNQ Community Sleepout maybe the most important of all, aiming to raise $60,000 to support homeless people and people at risk of homelessness in the far north on August 11.

Now in its seventh year, the FNQ Community Sleepout, on Friday, August 11, aims to raise awareness and funds for homelessness by offering Cairns’ residents an authentic experience of what sleeping on the streets feels like.

The event starts at 4pm on the east lawn of the Esplanade, with participants spending the night out with only one piece of cardboard and a sleeping bag.

This year, major sponsor Kenfrost Homes has committed to match any donations up to $25,000 with the goal of surpassing 2022’s final figure of $52,000.

Vinnies FNQ diocesan president Veronica Innes said this was an especially crucial year for the event.

“We’re holding our seventh annual sleepout and all money raised will stay in FNQ,” Ms Innes said.

“We will also be holding an auction at 7pm on Friday so we’re also encouraging the community to come and bid for some wonderful items.

“You probably won’t sleep well but you’ll get to experience what people that are sleeping rough go through.

“At the moment there are 6000 people on the waiting list for social housing, that equates to 250 families, and 1500 of those are at

Saturday 12 August

Poolside at the Pullman Cairns International from 6pm-9pm risk of homelessness so the situation has really worsened.”

Cairns Chamber of Commerce chief executive and FNQ Community Sleepout ambassador Patricia O’Neill said she was eager to support the event for another year.

“I’ve participated in the sleepout for a number of years now and last year just as it is today, was bucketing down, so there was no better and authentic way to experience what other people experience day in and day out,” Ms O’Neill said.

“St Vinnies supports not only homeless people but people at risk of homelessness, so when they can help with someone’s rent they step in, so any little bit I can do to ensure less people are on the streets then I’ll do it every year.” Kenfrost Homes marketing director and sleepout ambassador Alex Loughton said “anyone that donates to any of the profiles and people who are doing the sleepout that money it’s instantly doubled, also doubling the impact”.

To register and/or donate, visit https://bit.ly/3OaHgvG

Hotel chefs come together for charity!

Enjoy

Dress: Cocktail

Come dressed in your most sea-tacular outfit.

The event includes:

• Canapés, hors d’oeuvres and desert stations