CEO Spends Night on Cardboard and Concrete

What drew you to this charity in particular?

“Well, what drew me to this experience in particular was that unlike other charity organisations you’re not experiencing… What I mean is that the CEO sleeopout means that you’re experiencing what the people you are donating for are experiencing. Whereas with lots of other charities you don’t go through what they go through. That was something that was particularly different, we were having an opportunity in a very small way, to see what the homeless have to suffer every night.”

Did you find the experience harder or easier than you thought it would be?

“It think it was as I expected to be honest, I knew it was going to be cold and uncomfortable… It was particularly cold, I think the concrete was particularly hard – that was the biggest issue. We had just a thin piece of cardboard (and a sleeping bag), we got a soup kitchen dinner, we had a mug of soup and a bread roll.”

What did you learn about homelessness, that you didn’t know before?

“I think the one thing I did learn was the increase in it, I didn’t realise that it was increasing in Australia. In Australia we see ourselves as an affluent country, we’re told that people are getting welfare but it’s the gap between the have and the have nots…It was quite a shock to me that homelessness has risen considerably over the last five years”

Was there a moment that was particularly difficult during the sleepout? Was there a moment that stands out as the most difficult to get through?

“I think it was also the loneliness that I could relate to, that you feel very vulnerable. I went there on my own, that added to the experience. It meant that I felt that sense of isolation, that people – on top of being homeless they are very vulnerable and there is a lack of security”

Has the experience changed how you view homelessness and homeless people?

“Yet it probably has, it has made me develop a deeper sense of sympathy and empathy to their plight, and a more acute awareness that anyone can suffer homelessness. I certainly was aware of family violence or alcoholism, mental health issues (for causing homelessness), so I think the key issues that result in homelessness I was aware of… but by being told stories about people that supposedly had a normal life, that are intelligent and professional… It broadened my view”

Did you reach your fundraising target?

“Yes we did, it was an opportunity for all of our aged care facilities to become involved. We had fundraising activities in all of our homes, since we’re an aged care provider who are providing homes for older Australians, it seems like a great fundraiser for us to do. The goal was to raise $5,000 and we exceeded that”

How can other people donate to this cause or make a difference?

“Certainly donating to Vinnies is a good way to make a difference, and I think my opportunity to talk about my experience… I think that helps, and any donation however small makes a difference.

Another thing we did was donate our sleeping bags on the night, at the end of the night we had an opportunity to donate our sleeping bags to people who are homeless so they could be warm during the night. It’s not just about the money, there are other gestures that you can do to make a difference.”