Gary Humphries, former ACT Senator, Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and ACT Chief Minister registered this week for Fusion’s Sleep In Your Car event on the 8th of August to raise awareness and funds to address youth homelessness.
“Homelessness robs people of the ability to be full citizens. It’s hard to hold down a job, or study, or even have a social life, when you have no-where to live.
“Taking part in Sleep In Your Car is my way of giving this problem the recognition it deserves” says Mr Humphries, who is now Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Held within Homelessness Prevention Week (3-9th August), the event hopes to create understanding on the plight of those living without a home by having participants experience homelessness first hand, particularly those who are youth.
According to statistics there are 105,237 people homeless in Australia every night! 94% of these are not on the streets… they are in cars, caravans, friend’s couches, homelessness services etc. This event seeks to shine the light on this often hidden issue.
Local event organizer, Brenton Reimann says, “Our focus is on the 466 youth (12-24 year olds) who are homeless on any given night in Canberra. There are some great sleepout events in Canberra at other times of the year, raising much needed funds for this vital area. Our event is at the coldest part of the year as a challenge really – will Canberrans rise to the challenge to help those doing it tough? So get your team together, rope your friends and workmates in, and register today!”
On August 8th from 6pm, those involved will either sleep in their car, or the “cardboard city” of ex refrigerator boxes provided by local whitegood stores on site in the gym. Activities on the night will include a movie screening, soup kitchen put on by local churches, and some fun relays and activities with a serious side. The night will end with a hot breakfast for participants on Sunday morning.
Participants work to get people to sponsor them and must raise a minimum of $100 (if over 18, $50 if under 18). All funds raised will be split evenly between Fusion Canberra’s local preventive youth support programs and MissionWorx local programs for those in crisis. Any individual nation-wide, who raises the most amount of money will win an iPad Mini.
For further information and to register, visit http://www.sleepinyourcar.com.au.
For Media Enquiries please contact Brenton Reimann, brenton.reimann@fusion.org.au, 6111 2959 or 0424 932 292.
Gary Humphries is also happy to take media enquiries regarding this event. He can be contacted on 6243 4611.
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