School Sleep Out raises $213,403 for Street Connect

The 10th Anglicare WA School Sleep Out was held 8th August this year, once again at Optus Stadium. 500 students from 20 different schools took part this year, all raising funds for Anglicare WA’s Street Connect. 

The event included a “homelessness simulation” exercise for all the students to take part in, and then an overnight stay on the cold concrete floor of Optus Stadium, complete with random sirens and lights coming on off.

We asked the students after the event what they thought and what they learned from their night sleeping in the cold, on the floor of Optus stadium with nothing more than some cardboard for comfort, below are some of the insightful comments

 “I wanted to support those who struggle and also wanted to try harder to understand their experience and how much they must struggle. It provided me with the opportunity to understand how lucky and advantaged I am and made me realise I should be very grateful.” 

“I honestly have no idea how homeless people do it. It was very exhausting, and my body was sore afterwards so I definitely gained respect and understanding for those sleeping rough.” 

“Being homeless is very difficult, especially the not knowing.” 

“I have learned how scared those who are without a home must feel. I also now understand how tired, drained and exhausted they must feel every day.” 

Everyone who took part in the event left with their own personal insight into the difficulties people face without a safe and secure home of their own, and a little bit more empathy towards the struggles people who are experiencing homelessness face every day.

Street Connect is a youth outreach service that provides support, advocacy and referrals to young people who are street present or at risk of homelessness. The service is delivered by a dedicated team of youth workers who provide outreach via the Street Connect Bus which is parked in different locations in the Perth CBD.