This year, Moira Shire Council director infrastructure services Rachael Gadd will give up her warm bed for a night, sleeping on cardboard in Melbourne’s winter chill on Thursday, June 18.
Rachael was motivated to join her first Vinnies CEO Sleepout by her encounter with a homeless person named Mark.
“Every day, Mark sits in the same place,” she said.
“He sits on the concrete, staring into the distance. He doesn’t beg. No matter the weather, he is there.
“Someone told me he sleeps rough in the park at night.
“At first, I didn’t engage as I walked past. I avoided eye contact.
“But it ate away at me — the stark gap in quality of life between his world and mine.
“This is Australia, the ‘Lucky Country’.”
Rachael said it made her wonder how this happened and what she could possibly do.
“Take a moment to think about a ‘Mark’ or two you may know — the reality is that Mark’s story is not uncommon,” she said.
At the last census, 30,660 Victorians were experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness in Victoria increased by 24 per cent between 2016 and 2021, far outpacing the national average.
And while many people picture homelessness as sleeping rough, less than seven per cent of people without a home are on the streets — most are in cars, couch-surfing, or in unsafe and insecure housing.
One in four are young people aged 12 to 24, more than 6800 are children and many are women and children escaping domestic violence situations.
“During the January heatwave, when temperatures were reaching 45°C in the shade for days on end, I became genuinely worried about Mark’s welfare,” Rachael said.
“I stopped and asked how he was coping.
“He told me he’d found some shady spots and that he was okay.
“I mentioned the cooler spaces Moira Shire Council had opened where he could go if the heat became too much.
“He thanked me but declined.
“Still, the ice was broken.
“Since then, we say hello from time to time. But the question stayed with me: ‘what more could I do?’ ”
Rachael said that when an email arrived inviting her to take part in the sleepout she didn’t hesitate.
“I signed up for Mark,” she said.
“And for the more than 100,000 people supported by Victorian homelessness services each year, many of whom are turned away simply because there are not enough resources.
“My discomfort for a few hours cannot compare to the reality faced by people experiencing homelessness every day — but it can help make a difference.
“I’m aiming to raise $5000 to support St Vincent de Paul’s vital work — funding beds, meals and critical support services for people experiencing homelessness across the Hume region.
“Thanks to the generosity of my colleagues and friends, more than $2000 has already been raised.
“I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has donated so far, and I now invite others to support this cause if they’re able.
“Because behind every statistic is a person. And sometimes, change starts with simply saying hello — and choosing to act.”
To donate to Rachael’s fundraising efforts, visit: ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/rachaelgadd/victoria
