THERE are about 13,500 homeless people in Western Australia, sleeping rough and living with the emotional, psychological and physical hardships that come with having no home.
To bring public attention to the issue of homelessness, and raise much-needed funds, last week 99 of Perth’s business executives slept on the pavement outside the WACA Ground.
Run by St Vincent de Paul, the inaugural Perth event was part of a national campaign started last year in NSW.
The CEO Sleepout raised $439,302 with FMG chief Andrew Forrest raising the most money, being accountable for $113,355 of WA’s total.
St Vincent de Paul chief executive John Bouffler said it was unacceptable that people anywhere were forced to live on the streets, even more so in a wealthy state full of promise such as Western Australia.
“We’re the lucky state in the lucky country in many ways and yet to have people out there on the streets … it’s real, it’s happening and I think it is incumbent on all of us to try and do something about it,” Mr Bouffler said.
The participants were addressed by four homeless people who have utilised St Vincent de Paul services in the past in an effort to convey the seriousness of the issue of homelessness.
“It’s acknowledgement of the work that society is doing, and the work that needs to be done in addressing the issue of homelessness,” Mr Bouffler said.