MOREE Masons Doug Hill, Henry Trow, Warnie Athauda and Joe Bliss last week joined fellow Masons across New South Wales to participate in the St Vinnies CEO Sleep-Out, a national fundraiser that provides life-changing services to those experiencing homelessness.

The Moree Masons’ team raised more than $1500, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Masonicare.

The sleep-out, held annually during the middle of winter, is now in its 20th year.

On June 19, more than 1500 CEOs and community leaders from across Australia were joined by more than 42,000 supporters to sleep rough and raise much-needed funds for the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Nearly $10 million was raised nationally. In New South Wales, almost $3 million was raised, with Freemasons NSW & ACT Grand Master Khris Albano’s statewide team raising more than $150,000.

This is the single biggest donation Masonicare – the organisation’s grand charity – has made, and will help fund new initiatives and ensure the continuation of existing homeless services, like food vans and emergency support.

Lodge Courallie’s worshipful master, Doug Hill, said Masons Grand Master, Khris Albano, offered all lodges the opportunity to participate.

“There’s something like nearly 40,000 people in New South Wales homeless or experiencing homelessness. That’s about the population of a town the size of Tamworth, and that really makes you think,” Mr Hill said.

“The night was tough, and I can only imagine what people experiencing homelessness are going through.

“I didn’t get much sleep at all and had a little foam mattress, about one-inch thick, and a sleeping bag.

“There were plans to play some cards, but it was too cold for that – at 11pm it was three degrees,” he said.

Moree Masons (at back) Warnie Athauda and Doug Hill, and (at front) Henry Trow and Joe Bliss raised $1500 for the St Vinnies CEO Sleep-Out fundraiser (Image Supplied).

“A lot of other lodges around New South Wales participated, and the money raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Masonicare.

“The total was about $150,000 from Masons, and there are a lot of lodges still submitting donations, so that figure will climb.

“The sleep-out is one of several initiatives Masons have going at the moment – there’s also a flood relief fundraiser – and it was good to get behind it,” Mr Hill said.

The Vinnies CEO Sleep-Out is a one-night event held on one of the longest and coldest nights of the year.

Hundreds of CEOs, as well as community and government leaders, sleep outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness and people at-risk of homelessness.

Each CEO Sleep-Out participant commits to raising a minimum amount of funds to help Vinnies provide essential services to the people who need them.

Funds raised provide a range of assistance, including crisis accommodation, domestic and family violence refuges, GPs for people with complex needs, alcohol and other drug facilities, social housing, case management, and mobile outreach via Vinnies Vans.

First held in 2006 by western Sydney businessman Bernie Fehon, the Vinnies CEO Sleep-Out has grown into a national event, and has raised more than $100 million to support people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

“The Vinnies CEO Sleep-Out has changed thousands of lives over the past two decades and continues to make a difference in how the community understands homelessness,” Mr Fehon said.

St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO, Yolanda Saiz, said more than 22,000 people have been supported over the past five years across the Society’s homelessness and housing services, including 6420 people in the last 12 months.

He said domestic and family violence has consistently been the main reason people have sought assistance from these services, followed by housing pressures such as evictions and rent increases.

“Our services are seeing high levels of people seeking assistance, with housing pressures among the leading reasons for support,” Mr Saiz said.

“The support our services offer is tailored to assist with early intervention and prevention, responding in times of crisis, along with giving people the stability to rebuild their lives.”