Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre Homeless Count Survey Results
Sleep Deprivation & Homelessness
What would you pay for a good night sleep?
Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre is raising funds for a sleepbus to help those experiencing homelessness get adequate sleep. Accommodation is free to all who access the bus.
W.C Fields once remarked, “That best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep”.
While this seems like an obvious remedy, a good night’s sleep is not always easy to come by especially when you are homeless. A lack of constant sleep not only affects our ability to learn and retain information, it increases anxiety and depression and affects our cognitive skills to the point that we operate at the same level as an irrational drunk person.
If you are sitting around thinking, what you can do to help our homeless people. Donate to the sleepbus project and help us reach our goal of providing safe sleeps by winter 2021. For a donation of $10.00 (Which is the price of a medium Big Mac meal), we can provide a safe night’s sleep for those sleeping rough in our community. Click the link below to get on board. www.sleepbus.org/fundraisers/markellis/maroochy-sleepbus
Despite its reputation for spectacular beaches and rural hinterland, the Sunshine Coast is facing significant challenges in terms of homelessness.
Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre Inc. is seeking support to purchase a converted sleep bus for those experiencing homelessness on the Sunshine Coast. The bus will be built, operated and maintained by Victorian Organisation Sleepbus®. The bus is fitted out with up to 20 secure, climate controlled, individual sleep pods in twin cabins, each with a lockable door and toilet.
The cost to
build the sleepbus® is $100,000 which may sound a lot, but keeping people
homeless on the Coast costs upwards of $30,000 per person per year. The federal
government spends $15,000 on average per person on services, however, people
experiencing homelessness cost almost $30,000 or more for the same services
than those stably housed. $14,507 more on health services and $5,906 in
criminal justice services than the general population per person.
The combination of no men’s emergency shelter and extremely limited accommodation for women within the sunshine coast, high rents and a critical shortage of affordable housing rentals, has created severe housing stress among a significant portion of the community and forced a significant number into temporary or permanent homelessness.
When people
become homeless, they are uprooted from their homes, family, friends,
neighbours, and their community. While experiencing homelessness, it is very
challenging to cook, store food and do things that many of us take for granted
like sleeping, taking a shower, brushing our teeth, going to the bathroom, and
washing clothes. It can also be hard to find or maintain work, school and/or
care for pets.
Homeless people stay in cars, tents, parks, under bridges, on the streets and bushland. They may also live temporarily with friends, family and occasionally in cheap motels. People experiencing homelessness who live rough in public spaces often experience unprovoked acts of violence and other traumatic events or are fined for sleeping in a parked car or have it removed due to being unregistered.
The effects
of homelessness are significant and can be long-lasting. Homeless people
experience great physical and mental stress, which can result in health
challenges that exacerbate pre-existing conditions and disabilities.
There have been a number people who have been exited into homelessness from Sunshine Coast hospitals post-op and recovery and after receiving chemotherapy treatments, experienced domestic violence, sexual assaults, and other traumatic events that led to increased feelings of uncertainty, vulnerability, and isolation.
Many homeless people do not have access to regular medical, physical or mental health care treatment, education and job training opportunities. All of these challenges make it difficult to enhance skills they may have had in the past, earn a living and move forward with life.
It is often said, “Housing is healthcare.” Housing is safety and security. Housing provides a stable launchpad from which people can get and keep a job, address mental illness and substance use, take care of their health and nutrition, and find purposeful roles in the community.
As stated earlier the $100,000 may sound a lot, but compared to the cost of doing nothing its essentially “chicken feed”.
Bus Costing Breakdown
Bus purchase and build $80,000
Operational readiness and delivery to service area $20,000
Once the $100k has been raised and donated to Sleepbus®, the build begins and depending on current build schedule, takes approximately 12-16 weeks to build and begin service. This may be longer due to the COVID -19 Pandemic and transportation to Queensland.
sleepbus® is responsible for and manages all operational requirements, including running costs of the service. This ongoing service cost is covered via sponsorship of the service; $35-$50k per year.
The sleepbus® organisation owns the sleepbus® vehicle and runs the service; they do not sell their vehicles or “franchise” the service operation to third parties.
When we provide shelter, the way people live their lives changes dramatically. However, If we continue to keep people chronically homeless, our taxes need to be directed towards hospital beds, ambulance and police callouts, hospital emergency admittance's, administration costs, and the criminal justice system.
For further information on this fundraising initiative or to learn more about sleepbus® go to www.sleepbus.org or phone Mark at Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre on 07 5443 6696.
Event Information
Monday 11th May 08:30Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Thank you to my Sponsors
$60k
Anonymous Anonymous
$10k
Foam & Rubber Industries
$5.02k
Jackie Burke
good work guys
$5k
Foam & Rubber Industries
$3.1k
Foam And Rubber Industries
Hi mark just a little bit closer
$2.46k
Kate Haniszewski
$700
Just 8’s Car
$589.40
Kawana Tennis Club
$515
Dianne Henderson
Hope this donation helps those in need of a safe and dry place to sleep.
$500
Anonymous
$500
Alana Maree Harris
$300
Mark Ellis
$284.40
Tafe Mooloolaba Students And Staff
$260
Grant Wallace
$260
Don Henderson
$250
Theosophical Society Sunshine Coast
$250
Laura Rose
$250
Kerrie Atherton
absolutely love what you are doing to help those in need on the Sunshine Coast.
$208
Probe Cx`
$208
Buderim Gardens Craft Group
Good luck in reaching your target
$200
Gazza Mckeown
$200
Ashley Sedon & Paolo-andrea Roberto-preston
All the best with this Sleepbus Project. Everyone deserves a safe space to rest their head. Kia Kaha!
$200
Phoebe Bishop
$156
Kerrie Ellis
Great work Mark. Very proud of you.
$150
Kate Hutchinson
$145.60
Sally Macqueen
$145.60
Jenny Mcevoy Real Estate
Please keep me updated with your progress I would appreciate it.
$145.60
Keith Hosking
$104
Lorraine Mcgovern
What a practical way to let people know the community does care. All lives matter. Thankyou Maroochydore Community Centre for this initiative . Theres always HOPE.
$104
Rpj
$104
Roslyn Goschnick
Good on you mark for doing this for men in need
$104
Michael Henning
$104
Cheryl Blake
This is a fantastic incentive. Please keep us informed as to how it comes along.
$104
Tanya Headley
What a great concept be amazing to see this on the coast you guys all do such an amazing job in the community
$104
Jennifer Sargent
$104
Kerron Bromfield
$104
Kempf
Together we can make a difference
$104
Shauna Cameron
$104
Anonymous
$104
Anonymous
$104
Brian Matthews
More power to your elbow!
$104
Astute Mooloolaba
This is such an important initiative to help us help the homeless.
$104
Kate Taylor
Great work Maroochy, hope you get to your target soon
$104
Susan Sabido
$104
Anonymous
$104
Nan Cameron
$104
Janice Burton
Keep up the good work!
$104
Tracy Mata
With many blessings
$104
Natalie Ridgway
How can I donate to the pink bus?
$104
Andrea Cornthwaite
Great work!
$104
Lisa Lindley
$104
Anonymous
$104
Diane Nolan
You are an inspiration.
$104
Goobie Mitchell
$104
Anonymous
$104
Phillip Oreilly
Thankyou for this . Hopefully it can morph into more help for our vulnerable people living on the streets
$104
Tracy & David Colenso
Such a practical approach to a growing social problem bless all of you who are are involved .
$104
Anonymous
$100
Lin
Well done. Good luck.
$100
Bronwyn Doyle
A great initiative
$100
Lin
$83.20
Anonymous
$72.80
Kerryn Vincart
$72.80
Sonia Goodwin
Let's do this!
$72.80
Mark Sierakowski
$72.80
Anonymous
$72.80
Berneice Mortimer
Good luck. I hope the fund raising is successful & you meet your goal.
$72.80
Anonymous
$72.80
Nicki And Charlie
Happy to help
$72.80
Robyne Murfin
$72.80
Anonymous
$72.80
Anonymous
$70
Hetty Hensen
Another great initiative, we have to do something and keep going till the homelessness is solved
$70
Maxine Difabrizio
$70
Paul Marshall
Great work. My family are donating the money we have collected from recycling cans and bottles from friends and neighbours and think this is a fantastic local cause
$52
Anonymous
$52
Shannon Embery
Let's get this bus!!!!!! Well done Mark and team, great initiative, please let us know if we can do anything to help from NSCC. Best of luck xx
$52
Karen Posselt
$52
Mark Ellis
$52
Elyse Henderson
$52
Anonymous
$52
Ceridwen Henning
$52
Dimity Carey
$52
Robyn Lavery
This is such a great iniative. Go MNC!
$52
Kellogg
$52
Gaby Hesse
$52
Ayla Mcgregor
$52
Vicki Scholder
Absolutely amazing- I hope you get the bus out there soon especially now it’s cold ! We need to help the homeless not try and hide them. Our society needs to stand up and look after everyone who is less fortunate xxx
$52
Shelley Rooney
Great initiative MNC hope a lot more get on board and you reach your target.
$52
Anonymous
$52
Splash Bathrooms
$52
Eleasa
Love what you're doing to bring a Sleepbus to the Sunny Coast residents who need this service!
$52
Zoe Cleland
$52
Anonymous
Excellent innovation to assist the homeless.
$52
Stevie Lee Murray
$52
Christine Bennett
$52
Anonymous
This is such an important initiative. Thank you Maroochydore Neighborhood Centre for the work you’re doing.
$52
Anonymous
Thank you
$52
Raymond Abi-fares
$52
Steven Taylor
Great initiative. First I have heard about it.
$52
Sarah Thompson
$50
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$50
Lin Stanton
$50
Andrea Barton
$50
Esther X
Doing great things to help so many in desperate need x
$50
Rebecca
$41.60
Alexandra Vernier
$41.60
Robyn L
$41.60
Jill
I hope we can work towards ending homelessness
$31.20
Ashley Trego
$31.20
Sonia Goodwin
So excited!
$26
Nathalie Raspaud
You guys are amazing for your drive & motivation to help the homeless luv your work Please contact me if ever you require volunteers I was there for your homeless night event recently very interested in helping out again so good for the soul Thanks
$26
Kgh2os
You are NOT invisible! You ARE loved!
$26
Anonymous
It’s important that People can be safe when they sleep.
$26
Janet
Thank you for your initiative to help keep people safe.
$26
Samara Clements
$26
Anonymous
$26
D Petersen
Thank you for the amazing and wonderful work you do for our community.
$26
Justina Moore
What an amazing endeavour! I wish you all the best with it :)
$26
Cheryl Hassan-hassan Finance
This is such an amazing project to get behind. I intend to donate a percentage of my loan commissions over the next couple of months and hope other Mortgage Brokers get on board
$26
Anonymous
Well done on this fab initiative and good luck
$26
Marg
Fantastic idea
$26
Lisa-maria Khan
$26
Anonymous
Keep up the amazing work and effort <3
$26
Julia
$26
Anonymous
$26
Kaitlyn Edwards
$26
Gail Lockyer
The start of hope for better tomorrow's for those on need
$26
Maria Coulter
This a great answer to a centuries old problem. Fantastic 🙂
$26
Rebecca Gambrill
$26
Mandy Jackson
$26
Robyn Sims
$26
Anonymous
$26
Anonymous
$26
Colleen Speedy
$26
Rebecca Dowling
$26
Brittany Thurgood
had the pleasure of speaking to tara davis on our tafe zoom class about the bus would love to help where i can. thanks you for everything you do.
$26
Cubby Shakers
You guys rock!!! 💜💜💜
$26
Jono Pryor
$26
Carol Ferguson
$26
Verenie Clark
$26
Anonymous
I myself have experienced homelessness. May God bless everyone with a good night's sleep.
$26
Anonymous
$26
Donna Fritz
$26
Nerida Currey
This is such a great initiative! Thank you so much for all your great and kind work ❤️
$26
Cathy Barker
Love & appreciate the work you do.
$26
Maher
$26
Silvia
Great project guys!! Happy to donate
$26
Anonymous
$25
Teula De'gars
$25
Yoga Nidra Sunshine Coast
Anna from Yoga Nidra Sunshine Coast is running another Yoga Nidra Yogic Sleep fundraiser for the Sleepbus on Saturday afternoon 1st May at 4pm at the Maroochydore Neighbourhood Centre with a special guest playing the sacred sounds of the Santoor. A donation to this Sleepbus MNC fundraiser is your Ticket to this relaxing and restorative event. Send a screenshot of your donation to yoganidrasunshinecoast@gmail.com please. Bring a blanket, 2 pillows and yoga mat and a cup for hot tea and homemade GF bliss balls.
$25
Belinda Thompson
$25
Zan Powell
$25
Zoe Mugiven
$25
Sunshine Estate Agents
Great initiative. Well done
$20.80
Lisa Brown
A great initiative, thank you. I am blessed to have never been homeless to date, but know we’re all only step away from it being us.
$20.80
Anonymous
$20.80
Anonymous
A terrific initiative for a terrible situation. Thank goodness for people like you
$20.80
Anonymous
$20.80
Linda Lennard
donated through Anna's yoga nidra session
$20.80
Jill
Can I help do some fund raising of some kind
$20.80
Anonymous
$20.80
Gabstar
Wonderful initiative THANK YOU
$20.80
Anonymous
$20.80
Trudi Bareham
$20.80
Anonymous
$15.60
Anonymous
$15.60
Elizabeth Einarsen
Love you all and the amazing work you do. ❤️
$10.40
Anonymous
$10.40
Kass B
$10.40
Anonymous
$10.40
Penny Robertson
$10.40
Anonymous
$10.40
Paul Brooke
$10.40
Goldenlighthousesupportservices
$10.40
Leanne Perrett
You guys are amazing, thank you
$10.40
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$10
Lorraine Trego
$5.20
Jude Allen
My Team Members
Tara Davis
$1,373.20
Meryl Shand
$182.00
Jill Lindsay
7peaks4 sleepbus
$5,174.30
Julie McEvoy
$1,531.40
Colm Sands
Rod Forrester
$1,015.00
Robert Roche
Louise Ochman
Peter Angus
