Mission Australia’s Sleep In Your Car returns to fund homelessness services
Mission Australia is calling on people to spend the night of Saturday, August 8, 2026 - during Homelessness Week (3-9 August) - in their car to raise vital funds for the national charity’s homelessness services.
Sleep In Your Car is a community fundraising campaign that began in 2025. In its first year, more than 4,000 participants swapped their beds for the backseat, raising over $160,000 for Mission Australia’s homelessness services.
Responding to Australia’s housing and homelessness emergency
Sleep In Your Car is one way that Mission Australia is responding to the ongoing housing emergency pushing people across the country into homelessness.
The 2021 Census recorded more than 120,000 people experiencing homelessness in Australia, with many living in severely overcrowded dwellings, refuges, boarding houses, couch surfing, on the streets or in their cars.
Mission Australia CEO, Sharon Callister said, "For many Australians, sleeping in a car isn’t a one-off experience, it’s an ongoing and incredibly challenging reality.
“With rents continuing to rise and social housing waitlists growing, our frontline staff often struggle to find safe and secure housing for the people we support, leaving families and individuals trapped in homelessness.
“Every hour, around 3,200 people turn to homelessness services like ours for support, and the demand continues to grow.
“Too many people are being forced to make tough choices between paying for rent, food, fuel or other essentials. These are the decisions that no one should have to make.”
Why Sleep In Your Car?
Sleep In Your Car aims to spark conversation and build understanding, while raising much-needed funds for Mission Australia’s homelessness services. While one night in a car cannot capture the reality of homelessness, it can offer a new perspective and a practical way to support people doing it tough.
Funds raised will directly support Mission Australia’s homelessness services, which assisted more than 20,122 people last year. These services include prevention and early intervention, crisis and transitional accommodation, outreach, case management, and tailored support for young people, families and adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Advocating for solutions to end homelessness
Alongside fundraising efforts like Sleep In Your Car, Mission Australia continues to advocate for long-term solutions to end homelessness in Australia and address the country’s housing emergency.
Ms Callister said, “To meet the need for safe and secure housing, we need to significantly boost social and affordable homes so they make up one in 10 properties across Australia.
“We also need stronger investment in early intervention and tenancy support services that keep people housed before they reach crisis. These programs are proven to work, with 98% of people assisted able to remain in their homes and avoid homelessness.
“Without action, more Australians will be pushed into housing stress and homelessness — but with the right investment, we can hit the brakes before more people are forced into crisis.”
Ms Callister said she hoped to see strong participation this year.
“I encourage individuals and teams across the country to take part. The funds raised will help us continue delivering tenancy support and homelessness services that provide a critical safety net.