Registrations Open For St. Vincent de Paul Society’s 2021 CEO Sleepout At Launch Event

The St. Vincent de Paul Society has called for CEOs, business owners and community leaders to register for the 2021 CEO Sleepout, which will be held overnight on Thursday June 17, 2021 at UTAS Stadium in Launceston.

The annual CEO Sleepout shines a harsh spotlight on the plight of the more than 116,000 vulnerable Australians – including 1,600 Tasmanians – who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The Acting CEO of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bernadette Ulbrich-Hooper said that homelessness in Australia is a much larger issue than most people realise.

“Homelessness has its roots in domestic violence, mental health, a shortage of affordable housing, and an aging population. There are currently 1,600 Tasmanians, including primary, secondary, and tertiary homelessness people, who need support. This staggering figure accounts for the many unseen homeless people who are sleeping on the floor in the home of a friend or family member; or living in tents, cars, or caravans. There are also another 943 Tasmanians at risk of homelessness,” Ms Ulbrich-Hooper said.

“A report published in May 2019 by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, found that between 2001 and 2016 Tasmania recorded a 20% increase in the rate of homelessness across the state. Hobart experienced an increase in homelessness of 54%, while there was also an increase in the rate of homelessness in Launceston and Burnie.

“Only 7% of the people who are experiencing homelessness are sleeping rough. There are another 93% who are the unseen homeless. These vulnerable people – some of whom are women with young children – are couch surfing, sleeping in cars and tents, living in overcrowded dwellings, or seeking refuge in temporary accommodation in motels or caravan parks.

“The St. Vincent de Paul Society’s CEO Sleepout is not about solving homelessness. The CEO Sleepout is about drawing attention to the issue so that we can encourage service providers, governments, and the broader community to work together to address homelessness and help the 93% from becoming part of the 7%,” Ms Ulbrich-Hooper said.

RACT Group CEO and Tasmanian CEO Sleepout Ambassador, Mark Mugnaioni, said he was proud to help raise funds and awareness about the issue of homelessness.

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, but unfortunately that’s not the case for many Australians sleeping rough,” Mr Mugnaioni said. 

“From participating in the CEO Sleepout last year, I learned that just one night sleeping rough is extremely tough, and it’s heart-breaking to know that this is the norm for those who have to experience it every night of the year,” he added.

In 2020 Vinnies CEO Sleepout raised $104,000. The goal for 2021 is $250,000, which will fund the Society’s Emergency Relief programs, Vinnies’ Loui’s Vans, and to pay for groceries, utility bills, and accommodation for vulnerable Tasmanians.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society 2021 CEO Sleepout will be held overnight on Thursday June 17, 2021 at UTAS Stadium in Launceston. To register for the event, please visit 

https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/event/launceston, or call the Society on (03) 6333 0822.