ECS assistant manager Tim Currie and CEO Chris Meyer preparing for “Bosses in Blankets”. Photo: Esperance Care Services, Facebook.
Esperance Care Services (ECS) is hosting its first ever “sleepout” charity drive to raise awareness during National Homelessness Week.
Executives from organisations that raise $500 or more for the cause will be sleeping rough on Friday evening at the clock tower shelter next to Taylor St Quarters.
ECS assistant manager Tim Currie said 13 bosses had been nominated as of last week.
He said they would ideally raise over $20,000, with donated funds going towards emergency relief services, like food hampers.
“I think a lot of people are struggling at the moment with the cost of living and the rental crisis… people are struggling to find a house for somewhere safe to live,” Mr Currie said.
“Homelessness can be classed as not just sleeping rough but overcrowded houses or sleeping in tents or caravans in someone’s backyard or sheds and garages.
There’s a few myths about homelessness but it can affect anybody.
The latest census data revealed 9,700 people in WA were homeless in 2021 of which 2,315 were sleeping rough.
This year’s National Homelessness Week runs from August 4 – 10 and promotes the theme “Homelessness Action Now”.
Mr Currie said the ECS event aimed to “shine a light on the reality of homelessness” in Esperance.
He said local bosses would take part in the services ECS provided by having dinner at its weekly “Friday Night BBQ” at the bus shelter.
“The meals are for people who are homeless or lonely and just need a chat,” Mr Currie said.
“We’ve been doing it for three years now.
“We can sometimes have 40 people on Friday nights, but it depends on the weather – sometimes it can be 10 or 12.”
Participants will learn about homelessness through a short presentation before tucking into their sleeping bags for a rough night.
