More than 200 business leaders recently swapped suits for sleeping bags and traded in luxury for a mere taste of the harsh reality of homelessness.
Among them was the chief executive of a local Shepparton business.
His mission? To illuminate the plight of the hundreds of people counted homeless on 2021 census night in Greater Shepparton, to raise funds, and to challenge his fellow leaders to do the same.
Phil Evans, the chief executive officer of Partners In Training, recently participated in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise awareness and funds for the rising number of homeless people in Victoria.
“What an amazing experience to be part of something that can make a difference,” Mr Evans said.
Along with other CEOs, he had soup from the Vinnies soup van and slept on cardboard placed on concrete under the cover of an open warehouse.
Mr Evans said the experience was amplified with speakers playing sounds typically associated with sleeping rough: trains going past, cars driving by, people arguing and yelling, sirens sounding, and lights flashing.
Additionally a series of keynote speakers, all hailing from Shepparton, highlighted the stark reality of homelessness.
Among them were two gentlemen with lived experience of homelessness.
Mr Evans reflected on the escalating issue of homelessness in Australia, particularly in Victoria.
“There are over 30,000 Victorians experiencing homelessness each night,” he said.
“Unfortunately, domestic violence is a leading cause, and the largest growing cohort of those experiencing homelessness are women over 55.
“The current cost of living crisis is only making a bad situation worse.”
However, he also observed hope amid the bleak statistics, citing the remarkable work being done by numerous charities and initiatives.
He said the CEO Sleepout itself made a tangible impact.
Mr Evans revealed that the decision to participate in the CEO Sleepout was a collective one and that his team raised $4630.
“We gave the staff the opportunity to decide what initiative they’d like us to support and during a planning day in January,” he said.
“They said to me, ‘Why don’t you go to the CEO Sleepout’.
“Vinnies set each CEO the target of $5000, and I am thrilled to be this close to this target.”