Image: Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Graham Quirk gets into bed with Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale at the CEO Sleepout launch in King George Square

The city’s business elite will get a small taste of life on the streets this winter as they spend a night in the cold to raise money for the homeless.

Volunteers from Rosies – Friends on the Street will offer hospitality at the Vinnies CEO Sleepout at Southbank’s Courier Mail Piazza on June 19 with coffee supplied by Gold Coast business I Luv Coffee.

Participating CEOs will also be given a cup of soup and a bread roll before they settle down in their sleeping bags for the night.

Rosies CEO Troy Bailey will be amongst the rough sleepers that night, though he says he will be sleeping a little less rough than most of the others.

“I’m going to be in a Backpack Bed, not a sleeping bag,” said Mr Bailey.

“I talk so highly about these things because they work – my night will be a bit more comfortable than most of the CEOs there.”

A Rosies van was on site at the launch of the CEO Sleepout on Wednesday, with volunteer Emily Rosemond on hand to supervise as participating executives donned aprons to serve coffee and soup.

Vinnies CEO Peter Maher tries on a Backpack Bed for size

“It will be good for some of the CEOs there to get a bit of an idea what life is like on the other side of the van,” said Mr Bailey.

Mr Bailey says organisations like Rosies and Vinnies are working in partnership to end homelessness.

“Homelessness is such a huge problem. In Queensland, there are around 20,000 people who are homeless right now, and about a quarter of them are children.

“The gap between street and home is getting wider, so there’s so much work to be done.

“As a participating CEO, I’m raising money for Vinnies to support the work they do.

“But on the night, we will be auctioning off a Backpack Bed and the proceeds of that will go to Rosies, so we can continue to provide beds to homeless people across the State.

“We’re all in this together.”

If you’d like to contribute to Mr Bailey’s fundraising campaign in support of Vinnies CEO Sleepout, click here.

Living on the streets is always a struggle, but survival is harder when the weather turns cold.

To help address this, Rosies – Friends on the Street has partnered with Swags for Homeless to distribute Backpack Beds to their homeless patrons.

Rosies General Manager Troy Bailey says the high quality swags offer dignity to people by giving them a place they can call their own.

“We’re coming into winter now, and nights are getting cooler – our patrons are doing it tough, and Backpack Beds give them a chance at sleep out of the cold,” Mr Bailey said.

“There’s protection there from the elements – these beds are waterproof – and they’re fire retardant too.”

The Backpack Bed by Swags for the Homeless

The Backpack Bed by Swags for the Homeless

The Backpack Beds are an award-winning Australian design, with a padded mattress, insect screens, and a lockable section for valuables.

The beds are quick to fold away, are lightweight, and provide an all in one temporary solution to people who are sleeping rough.

“We can get a Backpack Bed to a person who needs it for only $147,” said Mr Bailey.

“That gets the bed from the supplier, to a volunteer in any of our nine branches Statewide, and into the hands of a homeless person.

“You can’t underestimate the value of a good night’s sleep. For people trying to get back on their feet again, just being able to sleep safely and comfortably is a huge gift.”

To make an online donation, click here:

Donate Now

Rosies would like to thank Slater & Gordon Lawyers for their generous grant of $7,500 towards Backpack Beds.

Backpack Beds save lives, and help people get back on their feet again. Watch this video to see the impact the gift of a Backpack Bed can have on a person who needs it.

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