Sleeping in her car on a cold, wet night in Sydney gave Jackie Jones and her team a completely different perspective on the reality of homelessness.
On October 28, six members of the corporate team at real estate group Laing & Simmons, including chief executive Leanne Pilkington, slept in their vehicles in a carpark in Toongabbie.
It was a freezing, rainy night, and each team member gained insight into what it must feel like to not have the security of a home.
“I think it’s almost impossible to imagine what it’s like for people until you’ve tested it,” said Ms Jones, who is head of operations and strategic partnerships at Laing & Simmons.
“For people experiencing this for real, in those hours in the dark with no TV, no kitchen, no lights, no toilet, not knowing who might be looking in your car window, it would be a very lonely and scary time.
“It’s been a real eye-opener for us.”
The Laing & Simmons team members sleeping in their cars for A Night Without Home. Picture: Supplied
The statistics around homelessness in Australia are confronting, with about 122,000 Australians experiencing homelessness on any given night, according to 2021 Census figures.
But just 6% of those experiencing homelessness were sleeping rough, with the vast majority of homelessness more hidden.
Most people were couch surfing, sleeping in a car, or moving between temporary accommodation.
Together, we can end homelessness in Australia
Join A Home For All Foundation today
Homelessness is not uncommon – one in 10 Australians are now at risk.
To address the issue, a new national initiative, A Home for All Foundation, aims to unite the property industry to help end homelessness.
Supported by leading industry voices across Australia, the foundation’s goal is to drive awareness, raise funds and build long-term change for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
The majority of people experiencing homelessness couch surf, sleep in cars, or move from one temporary accommodation to the next. Picture: Supplied
The foundation’s first major initiative, A Night Without Home, runs throughout October and early November.
Australians have been encouraged to join the property industry in spending A Night Without Home, whether that be couch surfing, doing an office overnighter, sleeping in the car, sleeping outdoors, going without home comforts to raise funds and awareness.
All of the funds raised this financial year will go to charities working to support those experiencing homelessness due to family and domestic violence.
Ms Jones said those working in the property industry had a unique insight into people’s lives and the importance of having a roof over one’s head.
That was one of the reasons Laing & Simmons felt compelled to take part in A Night Without Home.
“Sometimes you see people who have to sell their homes because the bank has foreclosed on them,” she said.
“With the housing crisis at the moment, you see the tenants going to inspection after inspection and tearing their hair out and going, ‘we can’t find a property to live in’.
More than 122,000 Australians have no safe and secure place to call home on any given night. Picture: Supplied
“In our industry, we’re dealing with homelessness every day and I think it’s really important that that becomes the number one priority – to look at people and go, ‘what can we do to make a difference and how can we help this not be such an issue’?”
Laing & Simmons has 58 offices, primarily around Sydney metro and regional NSW, and each office supports local community initiatives, whether through sporting clubs, charity groups, schools or youth groups.
The team at Laing & Simmons raised more than $11,000 for A Night Without Home, and they are committed to making it bigger and better next year.
Just 6% of people experiencing homelessness are sleeping rough. Picture: Supplied
“There’s no doubt it was a long night, but it was also a pretty special night and despite the fun we had, we all talked quite a bit about what it must be like to find yourself in this situation for real,” said Ms Jones.
“I’m so glad we did it.”
English (US) · 