Local school students and residents mixed it with the likes of Muswellbrook Shire mayor Martin Rush, Upper Hunter Shire Council general manager Steve McDonald, Hunter Valley Police District chief inspector Guy Guiana, BHP Billiton Mt Arthur Coal GM David Boshoff, MRS Services Group chief operating officer Jonathon McTaggart, as well as representatives from Upper Hunter Homeless Support and Upper Hunter Youth Services, to support the fourth annual Vinnies Community Sleepout at the Muswellbrook Showground.

And, for good measure, the ladies of the Muswellbrook Red Cross ensured everyone stayed warm, courtesy of a few tasty soups.

“We’re very happy with the turnout,” St Vincent de Paul’s Carole O’Brien said.

“This is the fourth time we’ve hosted it, which not only raises money to help the homeless in our community but also awareness.

“It’s a growing event with 15 people sleeping out in the first year and 33 in 2017.”

According to the statistics, more than 105,000 people in Australia are homeless and 43 per cent of them are under 25.

“In the Upper Hunter we’ve found that individuals are couch surfing, sleeping in their cars or are overcrowded in shared housing,” Upper Hunter Homeless Support’s (UHHS) Marina Lee-Warner said.

“Or, they’re put out of their homes because they can’t pay their rent.

“So, we’re keen to do anything we can to reduce that number, especially in this area.”