The 2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout has raised more than $8.3 million nationally to support homeless people, with $2.5 million raised in New South Wales alone.
The St Vincent de Paul Society is commemorating 20 years of the sleepout, which sees business and community leaders sleeping in the elements to raise awareness for homeless Australians.
The event, held on Thursday, 19 June at White Cockle Wharves in Balmain, raised much-needed funds for those in need.
The first sleepout was held by Sydney businessman Bernie Fehon, who felt it was “a bit odd” to host glitzy fundraising dinners for the top end of town in support of people who were not sure their next meal would come from.
“In February 2006 in an organising committee meeting, I just said, boy, it would be easier to do a CEO sleepout rather than a CEO dinner, and that’s where the idea popped up,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
“Then I worked with a small group of people to make the first even happen in June, it was the longest night of the year in 2006, only a few months after conceiving the idea.”
Fehon said choosing the winter solstice for that first one, which fell on a Thursday, made sense.
“If we’re going to try and experience how uncomfortable it is, well, the longest night of the year is probably one of the coldest nights of the year,” he said.
“We’ve kept it on a Thursday night but it’s always very close to 21 June.”
The first event raised approximately $5,000, rising to $40,000 in the second year, with the most recent Sleepout efforts netting $8.6 million.
All up, over the two decades more than $100 million has been raised to help Australians who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Fehon said the money went to a variety of different places, including shelters, providing hot meals, and organising for support staff and medical supplies.
“Anyone can ask themselves ‘what can I do and what significant impact can I make?’ This proves that one idea, when you mobilise a team of leaders to get something done, can have a positive impact,” he said.
“For example, how can we raise $100 million in one year and start building more social housing or affordable housing?”
His words were echoed by St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO Yolanda Saiz who said the participants are able to gain a greater understanding of how homelessness affects people and their communities, and how CEOs can use their power to create a better world.
“The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is only one night of discomfort for the people who take part – our hope is that they are motivated to bring about change and support the work that Vinnies does every day,” Saiz said.