17/04/2025
Early last year, I did a 6-day hike through the Kosciuszko National Park with some friends. The views were incredible - the sleep, not so much. Between the cold and the wind, I probably got a few hours each night at best. But it was totally worth it, and I’d recommend the hike to anyone needing a challenge and a reset.
That said, my “roughing it” was nothing compared to the reality faced by over 122,000 people in Australia who are homeless on any given night - many of them children under 12. And with housing and living costs soaring, more and more families are being forced to choose between rent and groceries.
After hearing Vinnies CEO Kevin Mercer speak at a recent summit event, I felt called to take action and join the CEO Institute team in this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout - spending one night out in the middle of the winter cold to help raise money for those doing it tough every night.
Funds raised support:
* Emergency services like food vans and crisis support.
* Long-term solutions like training, employment pathways, and housing.
* The 500 Homes in 5 Years project — Vinnies’ biggest housing initiative in QLD, based on the successful “housing first” model used in Scandinavia.
With construction starting soon in Nerang, Bundaberg and Toowoomba, the 500 Homes project will help vulnerable Aussies move from crisis accommodation to stable tenancies - and even home ownership.
I’ve committed to raising $5,000 and would love your support. Every donation made helps Vinnies deliver life-changing services to those who need it most.
Donate here:�https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/davidmcdermott
