By MELISSA MEEHAN
IT’S been a long, cold winter.
But despite the weather, former councillor and Mount Evelyn resident Tim Heenan is again sleeping rough this week to raise awareness of homelessness in the Yarra Ranges.
He will sleep in a cardboard box, exposed to the elements in Lilydale as he hosts a series of talks and events including lunches and dinner about homelessness for 10 days from 1 August to 10 August as part of national Homelessness Persons Week.
He first slept out in 2008 and has slept close to 100 days in various cardboard boxes in Lilydale since then.
This time, Mr Heenan will be joined for a few nights with Holy Fools CEO Neal Taylor.
“I suppose I’m doing it because I came across the issue while I was a councillor,” Mr Heenan said.
“It’s a substantial issue affecting a number of Australians, and I want to bring it to the fore in Yarra Ranges.
“There are a number of people in our shire doing it tough, and this is proven with the popularity of soup vans in Croydon, and the Holy Fools barbecue lunch and dinners,” he said.
Mr Heenan said sleeping in a cardboard box and speaking with other homeless people really gave him an insight into the issue and he would be able to share their stories and hopefully raise awareness.
Mr Taylor said his organisation Holy Fools had always supported Mr Heenan during his sleep outs, but this time decided to join him for a few nights.
“We are all for pushing the agenda of homelessness in the Yarra Ranges,” Mr Taylor said.
For more information see www.facebook.com/pages/Yarra-Ranges-Winter-sleep-out-2014
