‘I used to say homelessness is hidden, but it’s very visible now’: Homeless for a Night 2025 launch

After about two decades of sleep-outs, the couple a massive Toowoomba fundraiser have seen the dynamics of homelessness radically change. Here’s how you can help fix a troubling issue that is only growing.

BASE Services launch annual fundraiser Homeless for a Night at 2nd Shot cafe.

Every year, Toowoomba residents camp out for one night to raise awareness and funds for people who spend 365 nights without shelter.

And as the homelessness crisis worsens in Toowoomba, this event is more important than ever.

Nat and Tiffany Spary have been working at BASE Services for decades, and run Toowoomba’s Homeless for a Night fundraiser each year.

Nat (middle) and Tiffany Spary (left) at the launch of fundraiser Homeless for a Night 2025 at 2nd Shot cafe.

Ms Spary said in the last 22 years, she had watched homelessness radically change.

What used to be dominated by older men now includes people of all demographics walking through the doors of The Basement Soup Kitchen.

“Now we see so many families, women, men, older women, young couples,” she said.

“The system is broken, we don’t have enough houses.

“We have such a low vacancy rate in Toowoomba making it so hard for people to get a rental.”

Between 2001 and 2021 27,000 more people became homeless in Australia, and Specialised Homelessness Services have supported more than 1.7 million Australians since 2011, according to Census data.

Ms Spary said there were a lot of factors impacting the homelessness crisis, including increases in domestic violence, mental health struggles, drug and alcohol addiction, and financial hardship.

She said DV services were overrun with more people seeking help than there are rooms available.

“Domestic violence is one of the leading reasons why people become homeless,” she said.

“You don’t always want to leave because finding a house is bloody hard and lots of people end up being turned away and going back to DV.”

Nat Spary at the launch of fundraiser Homeless for a Night 2025 at 2nd Shot cafe.

Mr Spary said he had noticed a massive increase in the number of rough sleepers on the streets in Toowoomba in the last three or four years.

“I used to say homelessness is hidden, but it’s very visible now,” he said.

“The increase in mental health issues, homelessness, domestic violence, they’re all on our front door.

“We take so much for granted when we have a roof over our head.”

Mr Spary said the small space they have at BASE Services wasn’t enough to keep up with the homelessness rate, and they were currently working on plans to expand their space.

BASE Services launch annual fundraiser Homeless for a Night at 2nd Shot cafe.

The couple launched Homeless for a Night 2025 at 2nd Shot Cafe on May 1.

The sleepout will happen on August 4 and they are aiming to raise one million dollars to go towards supporting the homeless in the community and the expansion of BASE Services.

Donations can be made at https://homelessforanight.com.au/.