It's not too late to register for the free Community Sleepout at Lardner Park on Friday night.
The Gazette has worked with event partners - Cr Ben Lucas, Frankies Community Kitchen, Lardner Park and Mindfull Aus - to host an event that will create a better understanding and awareness of homelessness in our community.
The statistics are real and the housing crisis is escalating. With an increasing number of people facing, or at risk of homelessness, the sleepout aims to provide an experience of the hardship faced by many every day.
The Sleepout also marks the end of our four week Humanity for Homelessness campaign in today's Gazette.
Editor Yvette Brand said it was important the articles had an end purpose to reinforce the messages.
"As journalists we can present facts and we can write emotional stories of hardship. But to drive home those messages and have real impact we wanted to bring our community together to face the harsh reality; to consider a powerful message; and, most importantly to recognise the outcomes we can achieve by working together.
"We wanted our series of articles to have an end purpose. For one night we want people to embrace the challenge of keeping warm in a sleeping bag, sleeping on a mat or cardboard, soup for dinner and no television.
"We hope people walk away with greater empathy and awareness of what people in our community are facing, whether they are sleeping rough, sleeping in cars or couch surfing. And most importantly with messages from our presenters and support services, we hope people walk away with an understanding of how they can help," she said.
The soup kitchen dinner will be provided by Frankies Community Kitchen. Warragul Lions Club will cook breakfast on Saturday morning and much needed coffee will be provided by Warragul Toyota and Alimentos Catering.
The program will include guest speakers presenting their lived experiences on Friday night from 6.30pm.
Sleeping will be in the Baw Baw Pavilion, with a designated area for families.
A panel discussion over breakfast on Saturday morning from 6.45am will feature local support and relief services including Quantum Support Services and Baw Baw Food Relief who will guide people on how they can help.
The event will conclude for people to leave by 8am.
While fundraising is not the goal, we certainly welcome any funds raised by individuals and workplaces and encourage funds or donations to support local organisations including Baw Baw Food Relief, Longwarry Lions Food Relief, Neerim District Food Relief, Frankies Community Kitchen, Mindfull Aus and Bettermental.
Details on how to donate to these organisations will be available at the Sleepout. A cash donations box also will be available.
Register now for the free Community Sleepout to help raise awareness of homelessness and how we as a community can do more.
For registration and event details, see the Community Sleepout advertisement on page 13.