SHINING a light on homelessness and raising funds to help those in need were in focus again at St Vincent de Paul's annual Community Sleepout in Wagga.
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About 70 people slept through the cold on Friday at Charles Sturt University, raising more than $30,000.
Renee Cooper, resident and member of the planning committee, said the issue is "something we don't often think about it".
"If we do, we put it to the side because it's not a nice and cosy thing to talk about," Ms Cooper said.
"So it's just important that we know it's happening and that people can do something about it."
Ms Cooper said she gained little sleep during the experience.
"Maybe half an hour at the very most. I checked at one point, it was zero [degrees] but felt like minus two," she said.
The initiative targets those who are at risk or experiencing homelessness.
On any given night, about 105,000 Australians experience homelessness, including 110 in Wagga.
About 60,000 people are younger than 35 years, including 17,000 children younger than 12.
Peter Burgess, president of Vinnies' Wagga Central Council, said the it was another successful outing based on having more participants this year.
"We're also happy with the amount raised," Mr Burgess said.
"People came from all different groups, but we all became a group overnight. We worked together and socialised, but we also did a lot of things related to raising awareness of homelessness.
"So people going back will also have a better understanding of what it's like to be homeless."
