Crows CEO Steven Trigg is moving into Adelaide Oval - for the night anyway.
Together with fellow board members Rob Chapman, Nigel Smart, Andrew Payze and Greg Moulton, the five will brave the cold to take part in the St Vincent de Paul Society’s CEO Sleepout.
On June 21 business people and community leaders will camp out under the stars in the hopes of raising awareness to the real facts about homelessness.
The census undertaken in August revealed that nearly early 8,000 South Australians are homeless each night. This is likely to be a conservative number as people were trying to escape the cold. It is believed this is just the tip of the iceberg.
St Vincent de Paul Society Chief Executive Officer (SA), Mr David Wark says, “A major issue faced by homeless people is the lack of community understanding about homelessness, its causes and effects.
“To generate important funds and awareness in support of Vinnies’ work in homelessness prevention and support services, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout was conceived. The idea was to give business and community leaders a real opportunity to rise to the challenge of tackling homelessness, by allowing them to experience homelessness for one winter’s night."
Vinnies provide a secure outdoor venue, and armed with only a beanie, a sleeping bag and a sheet of cardboard, participants will experience a night of homelessness. The CEOs are sponsored for the night, to raise much needed funds to help those facing homelessness across South Australia.
“We are delighted at the commitment the Adelaide Crows Board members have towards improving the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves in the community,” Mr Wark says.
Trigg says he has thought about participating before but decided to give it a go this year after his daughter completed a project on homelessness.
“My twelve-year-old did a really good job on her project and through the process, we were able to spend some time with the homeless people of Adelaide. I think it affected me more than I knew at the time. I urge others to get on board and give something back to those in need because it will be a valuable experience."
Homelessness has many causes including the shortage of affordable housing, long-term unemployment, mental health issues as well as family and relationship breakdown. A global economic crisis, increasing unemployment rate in the unskilled labour sector and high rents mean many people struggle to make ends meet and are at risk of homelessness.
Vinnies is aiming to raise over $300,000 towards their work in the prevention and alleviation of homelessness across the state, helping to support some of the 90,000 South Australians that turn to them for assistance each year.
To sponsor one of our Board members or any of the CEOs please visit
ceosleepout.org.au.
