NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout in Wagga will once again be raising money for housing services, as it aims to raise $20,500. Photo: Supplied.
Wagga Wagga residents will brave the winter weather to sleep outside on Friday as part of the 2025 Vinnies NSW Community Sleepout.
Funds raised will go to the Micah Hub and the Edel Quin. St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is calling for community donations to help reach a fundraising goal of $20,500.
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW South Regional Director Solange Frost said the sleepout was a powerful opportunity for locals, led by locals, to raise awareness and come together to show support for those who needed it most.
“Our Edel Quinn crisis accommodation centre has been at 100 per cent capacity for 12 months, with an average wait time of 117 days for secure housing support,” Ms Frost said.
“We urge those in the community who can give to donate generously to enable the support we give to locals every day. With increasing demand for assistance, reaching our fundraising goal this Friday is essential.
“More and more locals are turning to our services as living costs soar. Housing stress in Wagga has risen by 25 per cent in just a year, increasing the amount of assistance given by the Micah Hub for essentials such as food and clothing by 58 per cent.”
The Wagga Wagga event is part of a series of community sleepouts in Albury, Greater Sydney and Armidale. Statewide, close to 150 people are registered to participate.
About 2500 people were supported by St Vincent de Paul Society members in the Wagga Wagga region over the past year, with four in five people seeking food assistance.
St Vincent de Paul Community Outreach Coordinator Shannan Carey highlighted the differing circumstances for people struggling with homelessness in Wagga, compared to the major cities.
“In the region, it’s sometimes really easy to go about your life, because you’re not confronted every single day,” she said.
“As you go to the shops, or as you’re driving through North Wagga, you don’t see the people who are down by the riverbank or who are finding shelter.
“Unfortunately, if we don’t see it, then we forget about it.
“We often hear questions from people asking how are people taking part in the sleepout able to sleep on just cardboard? Then we point out that that’s what some people are faced with every single night during the freezing cold of winter or the extreme heat of summer.”
Ms Carey said people could still register or sponsor the event, right up until Thursday 28 August.
“If people would like to register and participate and come along on the night and get their family and friends to sponsor them, we’d absolutely love their support,” she said.
The event will be held on Friday (29 August) from 6 pm at Kyeamba Hall, Wagga Showgrounds. To join in or sponsor the event, visit the St Vincent de Paul NSW website here.
