CEOs step out of their box to challenge homelessness

A cardboard box doesn’t exactly sound like the ideal place for a comfortable night’s sleep, but it’s more than what
many of the thousands of homeless Tasmanians have to call home on a nightly basis.

The St Vincent de Paul Society is urging all Tasmanians to dig deep during this year’s CEO Sleepout campaign
to make this grim reality a thing of the past for the XX people in Tasmania who find themselves without a safe
bed to sleep in at night.

St Vincent de Paul Society CEO, Frances Bartlett, said the annual Sleepout aims to raise awareness about the
issue of homelessness.

“The CEO Sleepout aims to give people a small insight into what it means to be without the support and security
of friends, family and a safe home and to raise awareness and funds through their networks along the way,” Ms
Bartlett said.

“If you don’t have a job, you can’t afford to pay rent for a house and if you don’t have a house you don’t have an
address, and if you don’t have an address you aren’t entitled to welfare benefits, so these people just simply slip
through the system.”

Ms Bartlett said this year they were seeing a rise in support from community and business leaders in the south of
the State, challenging the northern CEOs to step up and get on board.

“TCCI CEO Michael Bailey, Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania CEO Rhonda McLaughlin and The Oaktree Foundation
Tasmania’s 23 year-old State Director Rob Hortle have come on board to take part to raise funds and
awareness,” Ms Bartlett said.

“It’s great to see such a dynamic group putting the challenge out there for others join them in the Sleepout and
fundraising activities.

“For the first time ever there will be a free bus from Hobart to Launceston making it easier and safer for any CEO
in the south to show their northern counterparts how it’s done.

“A group of CEOs on a bus together for two hours means there will undoubtedly be some last minute competitive
fundraising taking place, so it will be interesting to see who comes out as Tasmania’s top fundraiser. “

The St Vincent de Paul CEO Sleepout takes place at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Thursday, 20 June.
Business and community leaders who wish to participate in the CEO Sleepout can sign up at
www.ceosleepout.org.au.
St Vincent de Paul Society CEO, Frances Bartlett