Team Rockingham to hit the mean streets

For the first time, Team Rockingham is taking part in the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout, to raise funds for the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness or financial hardship.

The sleepout on Thursday falls on one of the longest and coldest nights of the year.

CEO’s, business owners and community and government leaders, forming ‘Team Rockingham’, have raised about $9,500 and are hoping to hit $13,000 by June 18.

Rockingham councillor Hayley Edwards helped organise the team and said as of last week, 17 people had signed up to take part.

“We are going to be sleeping at Samy Medical Practice because they have an undercover carpark and it is private property,” she said.

“We are actually not allowed to sleep on the street because it is council property, but we will be staying on the streets near the Laughing Kookaburra Cafe until about 10pm.”

Ms Edwards said the cafe would provide coffee and soup for the group before they went to set up camp for the night.

“It should be a nice cold night, people need to bring beanies, scarves, sleeping bags, a cardboard box and whatever else they might want,” she said.

The West Australian Homeless Advocate chief executive officer Owen Farmer said he had found several people who used to live on the streets to come down and keep watch to make sure everyone was safe.

“They will stay awake all night so no one has a fear of getting hurt,” he said.

Last year, $7.9 million in total was raised for people experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness and this year the aim is to have an even bigger impact. To donate, visit ww.ceosleepout.org.au/ and search for Team Rockingham.