More than a night outside

This year, three kaimahi from The Tindall Foundation – Martina O’Driscoll, Sharlene Atai and John McCarthy – joined a large group of others for Lifewise’s Big Sleepout, spending a winter night outdoors to raise awareness and funds for people experiencing homelessness. 

Together, the team raised an incredible $10,550, more than doubling their original fundraising target. “We are deeply grateful for every donation, big or small they will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.” A special thank you goes to Simplicity Foundation for its generous contribution, which helped push the team past their goal. 

The funds will support Lifewise’s work, including, Merge Café on Karangahape Road – a welcoming, community space where people can access a warm meal, connect with support services, and take meaningful steps towards greater stability and wellbeing. 

But for the team, The Big Sleepout was about much more than fundraising. It was an opportunity to listen, learn, and stand alongside those working every day to address homelessness and housing insecurity. 

For first-time participant Sharlene, one of the strongest feelings from the night was the importance of safety and belonging.

“What really stuck with me was hearing from people with lived experiences. Feeling safe when you’re homeless is a real factor. We were fortunate to have security watching over us throughout the night. I can’t imagine what it is like for people sleeping rough who don’t have that.  

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and a sense of belonging in their community.” – Sharlene Atai 

The experience also brought home some of the everyday realities many people experiencing homelessness face. 

“I forgot my face cloth to wash my face and it made me think about how people experiencing homelessness need to carry everything with them. It definitely made me grateful for having a roof over my head and a warm, soft bed.” – Sharlene Atai 

An important takeaway is recognising that safety is something many of us take for granted, but for people experiencing homelessness, it can never be assumed. 

For Martina, hearing directly from people with lived experience was a powerful reminder that homelessness rarely begins with the loss of housing. 

“The speakers were incredible. They shared their journeys from experiencing homelessness and sharing where they are now. My biggest takeaway was something one speaker said: homelessness begins way before you don’t have a home.” – Martina O’Driscoll 

Martina reflected on how housing insecurity is often connected to experiences that start much earlier in life. 

“Not everyone grows up in a place of safety and nurture. It was a powerful reminder that homelessness is often the result of challenges that begin much earlier.” – Martina O’Driscoll 

The experience reinforced the importance of addressing underlying causes and investing in preventive, holistic support that strengthens wellbeing long before a housing crisis occurs.

The Big Sleep Out invites influential New Zealanders to give up the comfort of their beds for one night and sleep rough, raising funds and awareness for Lifewise’s work as well as the opportunity to connect and reflect on the systemic changes needed to make a real difference. 

Not only has John participated in this challenge many times before, but he also played a major role in setting up The Big Sleep Out during his time as a previous manager of Lifewise. 

This years’ experience reinforced the importance of focusing on solutions that address the causes of homelessness rather than simply moving people out of sight. 

“There was a lot of discussion throughout the evening about the government’s proposed move-on powers. The reality is that move-on orders don’t end homelessness. Instead, such measures can deepen harm and make it more difficult for people to access the support and services they need. Homelessness is not a choice – it’s what happens when almost all other choices have been taken away. Forcing people who are homeless to move on from the only places they have to rest removes the last choice they have.” – John McCarthy 

John also reflected on the hope that comes with bringing people together and backing solutions that work. 

“There are approaches to ending homelessness that we know work, like Housing First which already exists here in New Zealand. Housing people works. The challenge is that it’s not always widespread, coordinated, or properly resourced. The question isn’t whether or not we can solve homelessness, it’s whether we really want to.” 

“The evening was a reminder that change is possible when communities come together around solutions that are based on housing, support, and dignity.” – John McCarthy 

We know what to do to end homelessness – as organisations like Lifewise are demonstrating on a daily basis through programmes such as Housing First.  

The Tindall Foundation has a longstanding relationship with Lifewise and Merge Café because of the critical role they play in supporting people to access housing, connection and hope.  

Participating in The Big Sleepout offered a powerful reminder that homelessness is not just about housing. It is about safety, inclusion, wellbeing, and ensuring people have access to the support they need to thrive – all of which sit at the heart of The Tindall Foundation’s work. 

The night reinforced the value of listening to lived experience and standing alongside organisations that are creating meaningful change in communities across Aotearoa. 

Each member of the team reflected on the event as a valuable opportunity to connect with people working across the sector, as well as “others who simply care”. 

Through fundraising, awareness, and collective action, The Big Sleepout continues to shine a light on both the challenges of homelessness and the solutions that can help end it. 

If you would like to support the work of LifeWise, visit the link below:

Donate to Lifewise

The movement is also growing beyond Auckland. In Christchurch, the Christchurch Methodist Mission, alongside community leaders, will host the city’s first Big Sleepout in August, raising both funds and awareness for people experiencing homelessness in the region. 

Find out more:

The Big Sleepout South