The Sleep On It Challenge is back after two cancellations due to COVID-19, with participants continuing to raise funds and awareness about the plight of people experiencing homelessness in the Bega Valley.
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Sixty-five people have already signed up to sleep rough for a night at the Bega Showground Pavilion on the evening of April 8.
At the time of publishing, a staggering $18,121 had already been raised by the participants to go towards the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast's It's Up To Us housing campaign.
There was still room for additional participants to sign up, with around 114 sites available in total. The original COVID-19 spacing guidelines would be enforced at the event.
The SJA campaign has been running since early 2021 to raise money to purchase a small number of tiny housing units to help those facing homelessness, an issue exacerbated by the Black Summer bushfires and the pandemic.
Before the participants find their spot to sleep on the night of the challenge, there will be an afternoon of music and food trucks, an event open to the public, with organisers hoping for a gold coin donation at entry.
It will run between 4pm and 8pm and local musician such as Felicity Dowd and Sarah Lingard-Sinclair will be joining the line-up of musicians on the night.
While the early evening music and food event will be family-friendly, the Sleep On It Challenge will only be open to people aged over 16.
The Cobargo Girl Scouts and high school students from Sapphire Coast Anglican College will be joining the challenge, but will be at their own respective hall spaces.
There are a number of local services and organisations involved in the planning of this event, including the SEWACS Youth Homelessness Service, Mission Australia, Headspace Bega, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Salvation Army, ABS-Census, and The Sapphire Community Pantry.
SEWACS Youth Accommodation Support Service coordinator Kylie Furnell said there will be some fun little challenges incorporated into the sleeping rough event including tokens that will allow people to "purchase" certain extra luxuries.
"We've tried to make it a bit of fun and give somebody of what it might be like to be homeless for a night.
"They will have to pay for their little site for the night. Some of the sites might be more elaborate and have a few extra comforts for a higher token amount, down to a very basic one with two lines to sleep in."
The participants will have to bring along their own bedding, but beyond that they all have to use tokens to buy a toothbrush, toothpaste, toiletries, coffee, or any other extra little comforts that might be tempting on the night.
"The whole point of it is to raise money but also discuss with people why they're doing it with their friends and family," said Ms Furnell.
"The money goes straight to SJA as they are the ones on the ground doing things and they're such a worthy group of people and they do make a difference to services that utilise the caravans they supply in the meantime."
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SEWACS are one of the services that utilise the SJA caravan program for young people aged between 16 and 25 who are homeless as well as help them create their applications to be ready once any housing might become available.
"Young people at the moment are pretty well at the bottom of the rung when it comes to approvals," said Ms Furnell.
"The caravans are not the best solutions but at least it's something safe and dry and we just have to buy time to keep working towards getting these people application ready to something more suitable."
To join the Sleep On It Challenge, individuals or groups need to create a fundraising page and register on the Eventbrite link.
Other event sponsors include Bendigo Community Bank Pambula and Bega, the Office of Regional Youth, Betta Electrical, Big W, Campbell Page, Pacific Furniture and Bedding, Rotary, and Coast Hire.