Hills Winter Sleepout-update

Registration is now open for the 8th annual Hills Winter Sleepout at Bella Vista Farm which is on the August 14/15 weekend.

Money raised by The Hills Winter Sleepout goes to the Hills Homeless Prevention Initiative (HHPI) run by Hills Community Aid.

In the past three years, it has helped 92 adults and 98 children. Hills Shire Mayor, Michelle Byrne, who established the Hills Winter sleepout said: “I hope people get an understanding of homelessness in the Hills. We like to think that we don’t have social issues here but we do.

“A lot of people in our community are in need and if we don’t see it we don’t realise that it exists. The fact is that it is here.”

The Hills Homeless Prevention Initiative grants help Hills Shire Council residents experiencing financial hardship (usually short term, due to change in family circumstances, illness, employment changes and family violence) with rent and Bond.

Mici Beer HCA executive officer said budgets were created to ensure rent was sustainable in the long term and clients were referred to a Financial Counsellor if relevant (as well as other organisations), which further assisted with their financial resilience.

One client who was helped with her Bond through a HHPI grant was about to leave a women’s refuge for victims of domestic violence. She was offered a place through Women’s Housing but had no access to any affordable credit to pay for the required rental bond.

“Thanks to the grant from the Hills Homeless Prevention Initiative she was able to move out from the refuge to safe accommodation,” said Mici Beer.

Facts
Since mid-2018 The Hills Homeless Prevention Initiative has provided:
• $59,375 in total grants – ($1000 per grant)
• The successful applications around a third, 19 were victims of domestic violence.
• Main suburbs assisted Baulkham Hills (30%), Castle Hill (29%), Kellyville (21%), also Annangrove, Box Hill, Glenhaven and Glenorie
• You can register for The Hills Winter Sleepout to sleep out at the farm, sleep at home (on a sofa, in the car or in the garden) or sponsor someone and donate to them.
• This year community Radio Station Alive 90.5 will be live-streaming the event on the night and running a telethon so people can donate during the evening wherever they are watching from.
• What started with a group of 30 people has grown to over 120 including students.
• Northholm Grammar has already signed up.
• The Hills Winter Sleepout will be held at Bella Vista Farm from 4pm on Saturday August 14 to 8am Sunday, August 15

To register visit the hills-winter-sleep out-2021.raisely.com/
Registration is:
$100 – Sleep at the farm out in the elements
$200 – Sleep at the farm with shelter
$20 – Student registration including dinner and drink
$25 – Sleep at home, yard, car, lounge