Canterbury‑Bankstown Mayor, Bilal El‑Hayek, is calling on businesses, community leaders and individuals to join him in sleeping outside for one night to raise awareness and vital funds to support those experiencing homelessness.
Teaming up with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the Mayor’s Lights Out Sleepout is encouraging the public to sleep overnight at Belmore Oval from 6pm on Friday 28 August, with every dollar raised supporting frontline charities Mission Australia, Maronites on Mission and Brothers in Need.
“More than 23,000 people are sleeping rough across NSW – enough to overflow the Bulldogs’ Belmore home ground – with almost 2,400 of them in our City alone,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“Homelessness can look like living on the street and sleeping in cars, to the less visible nature of couch surfing or being in temporary accommodation.”
The Mayor said homelessness can be confronting and it doesn’t discriminate.
“It can look like a young person without secure housing, a woman and her children escaping domestic violence or someone who has been pushed to the financial brink,” he said.
“With attendees given only a ‘cardboard tent’ for shelter, my Sleepout is about coming together in solidarity and, for one night, experiencing first-hand the harsh reality that some in our community face.”
Over the past three years, the Sleepout has raised more than $78,800. This year, Mayor El-Hayek is challenging the community to reach a $30,000 fundraising goal.
The Bulldogs have been key supporters of the Sleepout since 2024, hosting the event at Belmore Sports Ground and rallying their membership and business networks to register and fundraise.
Bulldogs General Manager, Phil Gould said the club was a proud member of the Canterbury-Bankstown community and takes that responsibility very seriously.
“Our players do a lot of community visits and seeing people living rough opens their eyes and gives them a new perspective,” Mr Gould said.
“We have the platform to raise awareness and make change, so we feel it’s our responsibility to do so.”
There are three ways to support the Mayor’s Lights Out Sleepout:
- Register to sleep out and fundraise for your preferred charity
- Donate directly to help reach the $30,000 target
- Spread the word!
To find out more and to sign up, visit cb.city/MayorsSleepout.
