LIFEWISE media release Friday October 15, 2010

“Rough night in” raises $95,000 for Auckland’s homeless

Organisers of the LIFEWISE Big Sleepout, an innovative fundraising campaign to tackle homelessness in Auckland, are delighted by its success.

Social services agency Lifewise has held its first Big Sleepout, where leading Aucklanders were sponsored to “sleep rough” overnight and raise funds for services to help the homeless.

Lifewise general manager John McCarthy says the response has exceeded expectations.

More than 60 business and community leaders as well as politicians slept on cardboard in a central city carpark and raised more than $95,000 towards a new venture, the Lifewise Hub.

Auckland Mayor-elect Len Brown joined the weary participants for breakfast and congratulated them for supporting Lifewise and helping the people who were “doing it where it counts”.

“I’ve seen the kids struggling in Manukau – homelessness is everyone’s issue,” he said.

Mr Brown said he would also be prepared to join in the Lifewise Big Sleepout next year.

John McCarthy thanked all the participants for their “brilliant efforts” and encouraged them all to come back for next year’s event.

He said the money raised would go towards Lifewise’s services for the homeless, which cost about half a million dollars a year to maintain.

“In the past two years, Lifewise has helped more than 120 long-term homeless people find their own homes. Our team of social workers work one-on-one with people who come into our centre for meals and support.

“We provide a one-stop-shop where the homeless get access to the services they need, such as housing, welfare, mental health and drug and alcohol addiction programmes.”

Lifewise also provides 47,000 meals a year for Auckland’s homeless and marginalised people. The Lifewise Centre in Airedale Street will close in November, when Lifewise opens its new Hub in Karangahape Road.
People wanting to sponsor the Lifewise Big Sleepout participants can donate online at wwwlifewise.org.nz or www.bigsleepout.org.nz

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