Your donation transforms Australian lives

Where we helped in 2024 with a total of $850,339 in ACT & surrounds.

• Night Patrol service. You’ve expanded our Night Patrol services to those experiencing homelessness and difficult situations on Canberra’s streets each night. The Night Patrol now provides more than 13,000 free meals every year, and we’ve introduced new custom vans and are expanding our routes to more locations to support more people than ever before.
  
  
• Blue Door drop-in centre. This provides a vital service for those transitioning from rough sleeping in the Canberra region. It also provides over 30,000 meals a year and a place of connection and support to help rebuild their lives.
  
  
• Street to Home and other services: The funds raised enables our other specialist homelessness services to enhance their support in practical ways such as providing mobile phones with credit to rough sleepers so we can stay in touch with them and give them the hand up they need.
  
  
• ACT & NSW Region: Continue to provide emergency support across the communities we serve, including the Far South Coast and Western NSW including financial support to prevent eviction, material support and food in addition to supporting our regional case workers to support those at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. 

Gold Coast Impact

Helping the Gold Coast community for almost a decade

Nerang has been identified as a key hub for the first stage of the 500 Homes project, with a development plan for 1 & 2-bedroom units offering a mix of social and affordable housing options. Facility design work is underway, with construction expected to commence in early 2025.

This initiative is a collaboration between St Vincent de Paul Society QLD (Vinnies QLD) and the State Government, who are providing funding.

Over the past 9 years, the Gold Coast Sleepout has contributed $4.4 million, transforming an administration building into accommodation units for people over 60 at Arundel, purchasing land in Nerang, and now focused on funding future housing opportunities.

“Thanks to the ongoing commitment from Gold Coast business and community leaders who support the CEO Sleepout, we’ve been able to fundraise and advocate for more support for families and individuals facing homelessness,” said Kris Martin, Vinnies QLD Executive Officer.

Funds raised at the Gold Coast CEO Sleepout will be crucial in securing land for new construction and continuing to explore opportunities along the coast.

The Gold Coast has seen a 13% increase in locals seeking help in the last 12 months and was named as the region with the second-highest housing stress in Queensland in 2023, with one in ten households spending over 30% of their income on rent.

Queensland-wide Impact

How your participation in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is delivering more housing for Queenslanders doing it tough

The 500 Homes project is addressing homelessness across Queensland. The nights of provided accommodation have increased to 128,510 nights—a 30% increase from the previous year.

The first stage of the 500 Homes Project includes 147 homes in locations Nerang, Bundaberg, and Toowoomba. Design work is in progress, with construction expected to commence on all three project in early 2025.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout fundraising has contributed over $9.7 million to purchase land and ensure no shortfalls in these projects.

Kevin Mercer, CEO of Vinnies QLD, stated, “Vinnies QLD has grown immensely in the five years I’ve been CEO, providing $387m worth of services and support in the last financial year—a 68% increase. Our vision is to continue growing and supporting more Queenslanders, boosting our housing supply beyond the 500 Homes project.”

The funds from the CEO Sleepout will directly contribute to making these homes a reality and providing long-term solutions to homelessness. Vinnies QLD has also secured funding to upgrade the Family Support Centre in Mackay, adding six social housing dwellings, and partnered with the state government on projects including a 60-unit South Brisbane hotel and a 17-unit Rothwell aged care centre for urgent housing needs.

Vinnies QLD remains committed to expanding support for those experiencing homelessness through partnerships and new housing opportunities.

Kevin Mercer also noted that the single night raised over $2m, with funds supporting the 500 Homes project and other regional needs, including the Sunshine Coast event to resource Northern Diocesan Members to answer the growing calls for help by providing crisis accommodation.

Where we will help in 2024-25 with a total of $657,000 in South Australia:

• Funds help make a real impact to the lives of people experiencing homelessness and living below the poverty line here in Adelaide and in Regional SA.
  
  
• Our network of dedicated Vinnies Volunteers reaches out to people in every corner of the State to support people who are at risk of homelessness & experiencing financial hardship.
  
  
• With over 50,000 instances of support and over 20,000 visits, our team will continue to support people who can’t afford the basics by providing emergency financial aid, food, petrol, utilities support and other material aid.
  
  
• This assistance is provided to people seeking help via our assistance program, guests who are exiting Crisis Accommodation and other referring services.
  
  
• Funds raised help to bolster the support services that Vinnies provide. This helps to connect people to the relevant health, wellbeing and financial services to facilitate the return into society with the tools and information to live independently once again.
  
  
• Vinnies SA Crisis Centre accommodation and associated services and programs are undergoing improvements thanks to the generous CEO Sleepout donations. These programs support our Vinnies Community to build their independence and resilience.
  
  
• Money raised from the Vinnies CEO Sleepout also helps us to continue supporting local programs which don’t receive any ongoing government funding such as the Fred’s Van Meal Service, the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service and Youth programs.

2024 CEO Sleepout Victoria - Allocation of Funding to Homeless Services

Vinnies Soup Vans:

• Support funding for the 30% increase in demand across the Soup Van network in the Southeastern suburbs - $365k
• A new Southeastern Soup Van hub in Dandenong to meet increased demand - $60k
• Support funding for ongoing upgrades of equipment and facilities costs for the Soup Van network - $75k

Ozanam House Kitchen and Cafe:

• A new upgraded kitchen and cafe facility that will provide >2000 meals per week to people experiencing homelessness and provide hospitality and barista training environment for adult learners looking to upskill - $500k

Conference Work:

• Expansion of the tailored food assistance and material aid support in the East Gippsland area for 1 year - $290k
• Support Bendigo Regional Client Assistance budget as they commence support to 84 social housing units to be built Bendigo in 2025 by VCCH in partnership with the Victorian Government - $128k

TOTAL: $1,418k

Where we helped in 2024 with a total of $784,424 in Western Australia

• Vinnies WA operates Tom Fisher House, an intensive intervention service for those experiencing long-term homelessness. The service provides free overnight accommodation for up to 12 adults with few barriers to entry. It is also a place of engagement in which individuals are offered support to deal with the challenges they are experiencing. While partially Government-funded, Tom Fisher House continues to operate thanks to the generous donations from the CEO Sleepout.
  
  
• Vinnies WA operates two Passages Youth Engagement Hubs, one in the Perth CBD and another in Mandurah, which services the Peel region. The hubs were established to address growing youth homelessness by providing a unique specialist engagement service. They offer a safe, friendly and non-judgemental space to access support and referrals for marginalized and at-risk young people aged 12 to 25. Passages is a joint venture between Vinnies WA and the Rotary Club of Perth and Mandurah. The donations from the CEO Sleepout directly support Passages Youth Engagement Hubs.
  
  
• The funds from the CEO Sleepout support West Australians experiencing hardship by providing basic necessities such as food and clothing, as well as household items, utility bills and rental assistance and offer referrals and friendship through home visitations or by attendance at one of our support centres.

Where we helped in 2024 with a total of $72,165 in Tasmania:

Funds help make a real impact to the lives of people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

In 2023-24 financial year, our regional soup vans provided assistance over 24,650 times to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Tasmania.

Money raised has helped ensure our Vinnies and Loui’s Van services remain on the road – providing nourishment, support and companionship to community members living without the surety of enough food or safe shelter.

In 2023-24 financial year, our statewide Emergency Relief Service provided critical, meaningful assistance to 16,205 vulnerable Tasmanians experiencing homelessness and poverty in Tasmania.

As more and more Tasmanians enter personal crisis caused by an unprecedented increase in the daily cost of living, Vinnies is experiencing a record number of pleas for Emergency Relief. Funds raised by the 2024 CEO Sleepout are crucial in continuing our ability to offer vital support – including crisis accommodation, rental relief, fuel, transport and utilities costs, medical and wellbeing needs, and providing a basic supply of food.