On one of the coldest nights in Canberra, when most of us are tucked under warm blankets with the heater humming, Jessica Stewart will be trading her comfy bed for a piece of cardboard and a sleeping bag. 

As Ginninderry’s Head of Sustainability and Community Development, Jess knows a thing or two about community resilience, but on Thursday 19 June, she’ll experience firsthand what thousands of Australians face every night as she participates in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. 

The Vinnies CEO Sleepout brings together hundreds of CEOs, business owners, and community leaders across Australia, challenging them to spend one night sleeping outdoors while raising essential funds for homelessness services. Last year, 1,591 leaders participated across 13 locations nationwide, collectively raising an impressive $8.6 million. This year, with housing affordability reaching crisis levels and cost-of-living pressures mounting, the need is even more acute. 

For Jess, whose daily work involves everything from coordinating Ginninderry’s Green Star Communities rating to managing SPARK – Ginninderry’s Training and Employment initiative, , the connection between environmental and social sustainability couldn’t be clearer.

“At Ginninderry, we talk about creating a sustainable community in every sense of the word. That means environmentally, economically, and socially,” she explains. 

“When people lack stable housing, they can’t engage in sustainable practices, find employment or build community connections. Supporting Vinnies’ work to address homelessness is completely aligned with our vision of a truly sustainable community.”

“It’s also an opportunity to acknowledge that while Canberra is often seen as a very affluent city, housing vulnerability is a huge issue here.” 

Vinnies Canberra has reported seeing more people experiencing homelessness or at risk of housing insecurity each day. A 2024 Government Services (RoGS) report found that 2,407 people experienced homelessness for at least a month in the previous year, with 1,082 experiencing persistent homelessness. Behind these statistics are real people facing impossible choices between paying rent and buying food, medicine, or keeping the lights on.

“The housing crisis doesn’t discriminate,” Jess notes.

“We’re seeing people who never imagined they’d be in this position reaching out for help. That’s why events like the CEO Sleepout are so important – they raise both funds and awareness.”

Jess will be joined on the night by a powerhouse of local women from the construction industry as part of the Women Building Change team. While Jess and her teammates  are sleeping rough on Saturday 19 June, everyone can contribute to creating change by donating online here. For more information about the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, visit their website.