The number of people across the country without a place to call home continues to rise. In NSW, homeless increased from about 25% to a third, between 2001 and 2016, with most of the increase concentrated in Sydney (16.1% to 24.9%).
Homelessness rates are becoming more concentrated in major cities, particularly in the country’s most populous states: NSW and Victoria.
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) is again partnering up with Vinnies to support the annual CEO Sleepout, which brings business, community and government leaders together to experience sleeping rough on one of the longest and coldest nights of the year.
This is the third year in a row RRT volunteers are supporting Vinnies, serving hot barista-made coffees on tap and hearty meals at 10 events nationally this month.
An initiative of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), the RRT is staffed by Church volunteers who provide catering services during a range of emergencies and charitable events.
Lloyd Grimshaw from the PBCC, said the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is an important event to raise critical funds and awareness for people experiencing homelessness.
“Vinnies do vital work alongside and for Aussies right across our communities – and when the opportunity to partner with them came along again this year, the RRT jumped at the chance to help out,” said Mr. Grimshaw.
“Any time we can help in bringing awareness to the cycle of homelessness and the fact there are many people in our communities who are not guaranteed a warm bed at night, is a cause we want to support.
“Being a Christian charity, it is within our values to act with kindness and compassion towards those in need – and if that looks like a hot cup of coffee and an egg and bacon roll, then sign us up,” he said.
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is a one-night event over one of the longest and coldest nights of the year. Hundreds of CEOs, business owners as well as community and government leaders sleep outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness.
Every day in some small way, RRT volunteers offer a helping hand to those in need. For more information about the Rapid Relief Team, go to https://www.rapidreliefteam.org/.
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