Mindfull Aus founder Matt Runnalls knows what it's like to live on the streets and he is calling on people to participate in the Community Sleepout to gain a small insight - for one night.
"The only way we are going to move forward in this space of homelessness is to better understand it.
"It wasn't until I experienced homelessness and slept out, and did it tough - bounced from gutter to gutter and couch to couch - that I recognised all those years that I had walked past people on the street, I had a misunderstanding for why they ended up there.

"I think there will be a better empathy in our community when we better understand what it looks and feels like to do it tough even if it is just for one night.

"We will have a greater appreciation and a greater sense of purpose next time we walk past somebody in our community who is down, out and perhaps a shade of the people they once were.
"By doing events like the sleepout, we can raise not only awareness but educate ourselves about what we can do, say, share and provide in these moments when people are at their lowest," Mr Runnalls said.

Cr Ben Lucas said raising concerns about homelessness in the council chamber was only the first step towards outcomes and actions.
He said calling for a report and discussing it in council was only hot air unless something tangible followed.
"With The Gazette's help and bringing the community together we can gain a greater understanding of people doing it tough. And, it's only going to get worse before it gets better," he said.
Cr Lucas said Baw Baw Shire was committed to create an online directory of local welfare services for people to go to, or to provide assistance to others.
"There are so many organisations and people doing so much work for the community and we have the ability to bring those organisations together," he said.
Frankies Community Kitchen chairperson Geoff Manson said the sleepout was an important community initiative.
"We need to raise awareness of homelessness and how tough people are doing it.
"As an organisation, this is what we are trying to solve. We want to provide meals for people in our community.
"We are taking donated food that was about to be wasted. We rescue food and direct it to the people in need," he said.
Lardner Park chairperson Angela Bayley said Lardner Park was very conscious about putting back into the community and the Community Sleepout was the perfect opportunity to support an important initiative.
"This type of event fits in with our commitment to the community and any opportunity to raise awareness of those doing it tough we are proud to promote and be a part of," she said.