Rebecca Wilson

Sleeping Out So Others Don’t Have To: Standing With Women and Families Facing Homelessness

I’ve been fortunate my whole life, with a roof over my head and choices about where and how I live, a security I’ve never taken for granted. Yet every day in Melbourne, many people, including women and children, face a very different reality as they slip into homelessness after family violence, financial stress or a sudden crisis. As a director of the Tomisich Foundation and through my advisory work with the Mazzei Foundation, I've witnessed how domestic and family violence is one of the most heartbreaking pathways into homelessness for women and children. Those experiences have led me to join the Vinnies CEO Sleepout in Melbourne this year, stepping beyond my comfort zone to spend one night in the cold, and using my voice and networks to help drive change. I realise one night outside does not replicate the trauma, fear or uncertainty of real homelessness. But it is a small way to stand in solidarity, raise awareness and, most importantly, raise funds for Vinnies’ vital services - crisis accommodation, food, support and pathways to safety and stability. If you are in a position to do so, I would be deeply grateful for your support. Your donation, of any size, will go directly to helping people in our community who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Together, we can help ensure that having a safe place to sleep is not a privilege, but a basic right.