Maureen Mandipaza, the CEO of Dravens Healthcare & Multi Award Winning Entrepreneur is set to participate in the CEO Sleepout to raise funds for the homeless. The current state of homelessness has become increasingly prevalent in households, exacerbated by the relentless inflation and soaring cost of living in England over the years. This financial strain has forced individuals and families to operate on tight budgets, with inflation steadily eroding savings. Maureen Mandipaza, the CEO of Dravens Healthcare participating in CEO Sleepout to Raise Money for Homelessness Charities
The escalating rates of homelessness are evident in the rising housing crises across the United Kingdom. Rental prices have surged, while wages have remained stagnant, contributing to a situation where people are becoming increasingly impoverished. The deepening homelessness crisis underscores the urgent need for government intervention, requiring funding to provide accommodations for homeless individuals and families.
The damming report by Crisis Org on homelessness as the UK is experiencing a massive spike of homelessness due to cost of living and many other factors. Crisis Org reports,
“Rough sleeping rises by 27% as the homelessness crisis deepens across England.
Crisis is calling on the Westminster government to increase investment in support services and build more social housing if it wants to end rough sleeping and homelessness for good. The annual rough sleeping snapshot provides the government’s estimate for how many people were rough sleeping on a given night in Autumn 2023. It shows:
- 3,898 people were sleeping rough across England, an increase of 27% on the previous year. This is the second year in a row that the government has reported an increase in rough sleeping and the sharpest rise over a 12-month period since 2015. These figures further confirm that the Westminster government will fail to meet its commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024.
- The number of people sleeping rough is now 61% higher than it was ten years ago and 120% higher than when data collection began in 2010” Source: Crisis.Org
Elevation News recently interviewed Maureen Mandipaza, CEO of Dravens Healthcare, who in 2020 accepted the CEO Sleepout Challenge alongside her then three-year-old daughter, aiming to raise funds to go towards homelessness across the UK. Alongside several other CEOs, the event successfully raised over £34k in just one night.
This year, Maureen is once again participating in the CEO Sleepout challenge, prompted by the deepening crisis of homelessness. She expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I’m thrilled to be taking on the challenge again this year to help make a difference in the lives of those who are homeless. It’s easy to pass by rough sleepers who may seem like a nuisance, but it’s important to remember that finding oneself homeless is never an easy decision. People end up in this situation due to various reasons beyond their control, such as unemployment, domestic violence, and other challenges. Let’s come together and make a difference for those who need it the most.” She stressed the importance of acknowledging that finding oneself homeless is never an easy decision, often resulting from circumstances beyond one’s control, such as unemployment, domestic violence, and other challenges. Maureen urged for collective action to support those in need, emphasising the significance of empathy and assistance.
Maureen is just one of many CEOs participating in this noble initiative. The CEO Sleepout brings together business leaders to stand against homelessness. Organising events in cities across the UK, from Northumberland to Portsmouth, the organisation raises funds that significantly impact those facing homelessness in host cities. To date, they have raised an impressive £3.6 million from over 5000 participants, supporting over 100 charities dedicated to combating homelessness and positively impacting countless lives.
Encouraging others to join the cause, Maureen highlights the CEO Sleepout as one of the best ways for businesses to give back to their communities. She stresses the urgency of addressing homelessness, describing it as a crisis that demands widespread participation. Maureen emphasises the experience of simulating being homeless as humbling, one can only be filled with gratitude for the security of having a roof their heads.
For those unable to participate directly, you can support Maureen by donating through the provided link or reaching out to Maureen Mandipaza via LinkedIn for more information on how to offer support. https://ceosleepout.co.uk/sleeper-profiles/london-maureen/
