On November 21st, members from PHD Sydney and YFoundations slept outside the OMG Eveleigh office to address youth homelessness. Their efforts raised more than six thousand dollars for Yfoundations and Youth Homelessness Matters Day.
From 2022-2023, over 38,000 young people aged 15–24 presented alone to homelessness services, with alarming statistics revealing that nearly half experienced mental ill-health, and over one-third faced domestic and family violence. This is why PHD is proud to partner with Yfoundations, an organisation devoted to ending youth homelessness. The Youth Homelessness Matters Day campaign will come to market on February 24, 2025, through the joint efforts of both parties and the support of PHD’s exceptional media partners.
“We talk a lot about purpose in this industry and I can’t think of something that brings more purpose to our days than to work towards a future where every young person in Australia has a safe space to sleep,” said national head of digital, Gemma Dawkins.
“The PHD sleepout was eye-opening and confronting, offering a glimpse into the daily challenges faced by Australian youth experiencing homelessness. ‘Comfort’ was the least of our concerns, overshadowed by disturbance and disregard from the public—imagine your bedroom being a public space! Despite the camaraderie of fellow PHD-ers, the experience sparked deep conversations about the constant state of alert we felt, magnified in real-life situations,” added PHD’s investment executive Clare Cannons.
The sleepout proceeds will allow Yfoundations to continue its work in advocacy, support services, and community initiatives that transform the lives of at-risk youth.
Donations can be made here.
