Some homeless families in the Illawarra are forced to sleep in their car as the only source of security and comfort.
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It is more common than we realise and can easily go unnoticed.
But this year's CEO Sleepout has provided an opportunity to help draw attention to the fact that a change in circumstances can easily result in a family having nowhere to go.
Wollongong physiotherapist Cat Croghan, of Phyxit Physio and Injury Clinic, is not only choosing to sleep outside in the driveway in her car. Her nine year old son Jeng is joining her.
"For the last few years my eldest son Jeng has wanted to come and join me in the CEO Sleepout," Mrs Croghan said.
"But this year he is coming to do it with me which has been good because it has opened an avenue to talk about homelessness with my kids. It has been quite good to be able to sit down and talk to them about it".
Other CEO Sleepout participants such as Graham Lancaster and Danny Munk are sleeping in their backyard and Roy Rogers with his horse Fonzy in a stable.
But Mrs Croghan chose her car after being inspired by a story she heard while doing another sleepout in Wollongong.
"There was a guy who came to talk to us two years ago who spoke of how his wife died of cancer which meant he was left to look after two teenage children alone. He lost his job while he was trying to do that and they ended up living in a car for some time".
Mrs Croghan said becoming homeless was often the result of a circumstance occurring that can't be controlled through no fault of your own.
"In the present climate with COVID-19 there are going to be a lot of people in situations they never thought they would be in," she said.
Mrs Croghan thinks her son Jeng's interest has come from wanting to know more about the reasons why she has gone and slept out in the cold with other businesses leaders in recent years.
"We have always talked about it each time I have gone. And he has been trying to understand the full concept that for some people homelessness is ongoing. It is not just one night a year," she said.
"I think for him sleeping out in the cold with me is going to be quite insightful. We are sleeping in the driveway because it is safer than in the street.
"As a mum I often think about the lack of security and safety that must be involved in being homeless. And how parents who are homeless must think about that day-in and day-out.
"I can stop thinking that there are people out there with young families trying to get through winter without a home. And how remaining positive must be pretty tough".
Mrs Croghan said she was lucky to have a big car so she and her son are going to put the back seats down and sleep on cardboards boxes.
Saint Vincent de Paul said this is the first time CEO's and business leaders have been able to involve family and sleep in cars, couch surf, backyards, balconies and workplace car parks.
The community can see how they are doing it by logging into www.ceosleepout.org.au between 7.30 and 9.30pm for a live stream.
It is the 15th anniversary of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout in NSW with funds raised in Wollongong by 26 business leaders presently above $38,000. The national target was $4 million and $4.3 million had been raised by 2pm on Thursday.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
