Coast Shelter is challenging Coasties to give up their beds for just one night when its annual sleepout returns on Friday, August 25.
The 2023 Coast Shelter Sleepout will be held at Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium to help increase awareness and raise funds to end homelessness in the region.
More than $180,000 was raised at last year’s sleepout, with the money going towards creating a Women’s Alcohol and Other Drug Counsellor role.
“The person in that position has been inundated from the day they began,” Coast Shelter CEO Michael Starr said.
“The more money we raise each year, the more services we can provide to our clients without needing to rely on the government for help.
“The reasons for homelessness have changed over the past few years.
“We are finding the main reasons are domestic and family violence, mental health and, of course, financial hardship.
“Not only are we seeing an increase in the number of people accessing our services, we are also seeing a large range of new clients asking for help for the first time.
“This means that Coast Shelter must continue to extend services to meet the ever-changing needs of the community.
“We need your help.
“I’m asking the Central Coast community to step outside their comfort zone this August, and sign up to sleep out and gain a small insight into what it’s like to sleep rough for a night.”
Participants can join as an individual or sign up as a team and start fundraising with colleagues, friends, family or teammates.
Sign up at https://coastsheltersleepout.com.au/
Source:
Coast Shelter