2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout calls on leaders to take action on homelessness

As the housing and homelessness crisis continues to escalate, the St Vincent de Paul Society 
Canberra/Goulburn announces the launch of the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout, inviting 
leaders from across industries to help raise awareness and funds to support our most 
vulnerable populations.

“Year on year we have seen a significant increase in demand on our services due to ongoing 
cost of living and housing pressures.” St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn CEO, 
Lucy Hohnen, said.

“The Vinnies CEO Sleepout gathers CEOs, managing directors, together with business and 
community leaders to hear directly from the front line about the homelessness crisis in 
Canberra. It is our biggest fundraising event of the year, and it is vitally important to enable our 
services to provide assistance to people experiencing disadvantage in our region.”
“We need to reach our fundraising target so that we are there to help people when they need 
us the most.” Lucy said.

More than 1700 Canberrans are reported to be homeless. A collection of winter beanies 
representing ten percent of people without a safe place to sleep each night added a telling 
visual reminder at the Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2025 launch of the growing community needs.
This year the Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held on one of the longest nights of the year, 19 
June 2025 at the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) at Old Parliament House.

“The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is honoured to host and 
support the 2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Old Parliament House has long been a place of 
influence and connection, and we are harnessing that power to support St Vincent de Paul 
Society Canberra/Goulburn in their mission to combat homelessness.” said Andrew Harper, 
Deputy Director of MoAD.

“Everyone deserves a home. The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is a powerful call to action which 
makes a difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness in our community.”

“I’m proud to be representing MoAD again this year during the 2025 Sleepout, taking place in 
MoAD’s House of Representatives Courtyard. This will be my third time sleeping out with 
Vinnies, and MoAD’s second time hosting the sleepout itself.” Andrew said.

We encourage the community to nominate friends or colleagues who are CEOs, executives, 
business, government and community leaders to join the 2025 Vinnies CEO Sleepout. 
Visit https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/event/act to register or donate today.

Media contact: Nikita Nair nikita.nair@vinnies-cg.org.au or call 0490 209 692