StreetSLEEP returns to Sydney to help young homeless Aussies

21 November 2018

StreetSLEEP returns to Sydney to help young homeless Aussies

Sydneysiders are gearing up for StreetSLEEP 2018, Australia’s largest sleepover event to help raise funds for young homeless Australians.

StreetSLEEP, a Property Industry Foundation event, sponsored by Group GSA will return to Dexus’s 100-130 Harris Street in Pyrmont for a second year.

Hundreds of young leaders in the property industry will sleep out in the building's car park to raise money which will go towards the building of homes for young people in need of a safe place to sleep.

Across Australia, 42 per cent of homeless people are aged 25 and under, many of whom struggle to find safe, warm places to sleep each night. By choosing to spend a night on a piece of cardboard on a concrete floor, StreetSLEEP participants will experience the very real, uncomfortable conditions that young Australians face every night.

Richard Garing, Head of Office Portfolio at Dexus, said: “Homelessness is an upsetting reality for some young Australians in our cities and an issue which needs to be tackled through initiatives such as StreetSLEEP. Dexus is proud to be property sponsor of the event, helping raise funds and awareness for those less fortunate.”

Funds raised will contribute to the Property Industry Foundation House Program where 125 bedrooms will be built to provide at-risk homeless young people a place to stay in Sydney. The Foundation aims to actively address issues around youth homelessness by working closely with charities including Weave, Marist180 and Kari.

Property Industry Foundation CEO Kate Mills said the great aspect of StreetSLEEP is that it really gets people thinking about what it means to be homeless

“If you have to sleep on a concrete floor in a car park, it makes the issue a bit more personal,” she said.

"There’s also a fantastic team spirit among people participating and they come with a group from their companies really eager to make a difference for homeless young people.”

Through events and initiatives like StreetSLEEP, the Foundation is one step closer to increasing the number of bedrooms available for young people in need of shelter.

What: StreetSLEEP Sydney 2018

Where: 130 Harris Street, Pyrmont

When: 22 November 2018

Time: 6pm to 6am