What’s happening with Redcliffe sleepbus?

The charity behind the Redcliffe sleepbus – a vehicle which provides a safe place for homeless people to sleep – has announced it will wind up.

sleepbus founder Simon Rowe posted a video on the organisation’s Facebook page saying it had been experiencing financial difficulties for the past 18 months and could not continue operating.

The Redcliffe service is one of six across Australia and three in Queensland. It was launched in September and is parked at the corner of Fisher and Creek St, Redcliffe, three nights a week.

The custom renovated bus provides free and safe temporary accommodation for vulnerable people.

In the video released today, Simon says it has been harder since COVID-19 hit to make the organisation financially viable and it had been unsuccessful in attaining grant funding.

“Money is certainly hard to find to do the work that we do. It’s just become impossible and I don’t see an improvement coming in 2025,” he says.

“We’ve just run out of money and we can’t do this anymore.”

He says he will run the organisation by himself until the end of the financial year and is keen to see existing services continue.

Simon says it will be business as usual in Redcliffe, with The Breakfast Club Redcliffe stepping up to run the service.

“Michelle and the wonderful team at The Breakfast Club have indicated they will take on the service … we will do everything we can to support them,” he says.

Moreton Daily has reached out to The Breakfast Club to confirm if it will take over running of the sleepbus service in Redcliffe.

We will publish more details when we have them.