PHD Sydney, in collaboration with Yfoundations, has raised over $6,000 to address the issue of youth homelessness in Australia.

The funds were gathered by 12 members of PHD Sydney, including Sam Woods from Yfoundations, who participated in a sleepout outside the OMG Eveleigh office on November 21st. The proceeds will be directed towards Yfoundations and the upcoming Youth Homelessness Matters Day campaign.

In the period between 2022 and 2023, over 38,000 young Australians aged 15-24 sought assistance from homelessness services. Nearly half of these individuals have experienced mental health issues, and over a third have faced domestic and family violence. PHD's partnership with Yfoundations, an organisation committed to ending youth homelessness, aims to address these pressing issues.

Gemma Dawkins, National Head of Digital at PHD, said, "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."

The sleepout event provided participants with a firsthand experience of the challenges faced by homeless youth.

Clare Cannons, Investment Executive at PHD, shared her experience: "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."

The Youth Homelessness Matters Day campaign is set to launch on February 24, 2025. The funds raised from the sleepout will support Yfoundations in their advocacy work, support services, and community initiatives for at-risk youth.