The prospect of wet weather did not deter over 100 business and community leaders who slept on cardboard boxes at the WACA last night to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul.
Studies have found a disproportionate amount of homeless young people identify as LGBT; in 2003 a study by La Trobe University researchers found 16 per cent of young homeless people in Melbourne were same-sex attracted or gender-diverse.
Over $580,000 was raised in Western Australia alone for the annual CEO Sleepout. More than $3.8 million was raised nationwide. Participants were banned from taking luxury bedding items such as camp beds and air mattresses and had to make do with cardboard boxes and sleeping bags.
Weather forecasts predicted showers and temperatures as low as 12C but it did not discourage prominent community members such as WA Opposition Leader Eric Ripper and Fortescue Metal’s executive director Andrew Forrest.
Youth Affairs Council of WA executive officer Craig Comrie also joined the Sleepout last night and said it was everything you would expect on a Perth winter’s night – cold, wet and uncomfortable.
‘I had no idea what being really cold felt like until last night – a far cry from my usual warm bed,’ Comrie told OUTinPerth.
‘I participated because I know this is a serious issue that needs the whole community to commit to changing and this was an opportunity for me to put my support and money behind St. Vinnies and the work they do.
‘I am extremely passionate about the issue of homelessness and the opportunity to participate in the CEO Sleepout was for me an opportunity to experience what it is really like for homeless young people.’
Comrie, who rose over $4,000 for his part, said it was hard to understand the full extent of homelessness until it was experienced firsthand.
Burswood Entertainment Complex CEO Barry Felstead raised the most money in WA with his contribution worth over $46,000.
In WA alone there are almost 14,000 people who have no place to call home and over 5,000 young people are homeless, living rough or ‘couch surfing’ every night.
Benn Dorrington
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