{"id":42246,"date":"2023-10-20T15:19:48","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/young-entrepreneurs-join-forces-with-corporate-tycoons-to-tackle-homelessness-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:19:48","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:19:48","slug":"young-entrepreneurs-join-forces-with-corporate-tycoons-to-tackle-homelessness-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/young-entrepreneurs-join-forces-with-corporate-tycoons-to-tackle-homelessness-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Young entrepreneurs join forces with corporate tycoons to tackle homelessness – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chief executives across Australia took to the streets last week in a fundraising effort to raise awareness about the suffering and everyday challenges faced by people who are homeless.<\/p>\n

Last week marked the 10th anniversary of Vinnies CEO Sleepout, organised by the St Vincent de Paul Society, and more than $5 million has already been raised.<\/p>\n

While the campaign is well recognised for taking the heads of mogul corporations and big banks out of their comfy, luxe bedrooms and propping them out in the stark cold, an increasing number of new entrepreneurs are also signing up.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s campaign saw the likes of Stylerunner founder Julie Stevanja, Vinomofo co-founder Justin Dry and WINK Models and TheRight.Fit founder Taryn Williams camp outside for a night.<\/p>\n

Sydney temperatures dropped to a few degrees and Melbourne was hit by a storm, while the participants slept on cardboard outdoors.<\/p>\n

More than 100,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Australia and for many, these conditions are an everyday experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was incredibly eye-opening,\u201d Williams says, who spent the night with Stevanja and ShowPo founder Jane Lu.<\/p>\n

The night started with an experience where Williams and fellow executives were made to walk in the shoes of a person who is homeless.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach one of us that do the sleep out comes away with so much knowledge,\u201d she told SmartCompany<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In the role-play, Williams had an injury that made her lose her job. Unable to return to work she found herself couch surfing before running out of options and ending up on the streets, which lead her down a cycle of drug and alcohol abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you have to go to New South Wales Housing for housing support,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

But because she had a drug and alcohol problem in the scenario, she was told go get help first because they won\u2019t provide housing if she has been drinking.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the trauma and fear of being robbed and attacked is detrimental, she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you\u2019re directed to mental health support,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Accessing government housing support that most people assume is easily available isn\u2019t that simple and many vulnerable people are turned away because of these complex issues, says Williams.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople that are asking for help are falling between the cracks,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Organisations like Vinnies help people in these gaps and Williams hopes her efforts will help them continue their work.<\/p>\n

She says the other issue is getting support to people at risk of becoming homeless early on so they when they do lose their job and are about to be evicted, they are directed to the right services before things spiral down further.<\/p>\n

With a goal of raising $15,000 for Vinnies, Williams will donate $5 on behalf of anyone who shares a photo of themselves on Instagram or Facebook with \u201c#40WINKS\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly important in my team in both businesses, it\u2019s important to see how much we give back,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Dry hopes Vinomofo\u2019s involvement in the event will help reduce the number of nights vulnerable people spend on the streets.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs founders, Andre [Eikmeier] and I are extremely passionate about the issue and have been supporting charities in this space for a long time, however, it wasn\u2019t until he told me about how worthwhile the experience was last year that I decided I\u2019d get involved in the event,\u201d Dry told SmartCompany.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s part of Vinomofo\u2019s mission to do some good for the world so giving back is a big part of our culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt becomes part of the foundation and attracts like-minded people to the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article was first published on SmartCompany.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Follow StartupSmart on<\/em> Facebook,<\/em> Twitter,<\/em>LinkedIn <\/em>and <\/em>SoundCloud.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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