- Nov 8, 2016
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Came across this today and am wondering if I am the only person getting a whole bunch of red flags here.
The charity is registered and has an ABN
http://www.abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View?id=15609317937
However I fail to see any evidence that this organisation has provided any sleeps for homeless individuals. It appears that there has been a prototype bus made but I cannot see any evidence of it being used for the stated aim of this organisation.
The founders linkedin page seemed to be quite short on the specifics of his history and raises concerns regarding his chances of success with donated funds.
https://au.linkedin.com/in/sleepbussimon
He raised some funds through gofundme and appears to have built one bus that he shows off in public and videos online to generate more influx of funds.
https://www.gofundme.com/profile/simon-rowe-3uqjw
Here is an image of the bus.
It would seem the statement on the side is a little misleading if it has never been used in that manner.
From 4:40 in this video published July 31, 2017 he talks about how a donor can log in and see what is happening with a bus and how many sleeps have been provided etc. Yet 20 months later the sleepbus live page has not eventuated. https://www.sleepbus.org/sleepbuslive
On this page https://www.sleepbus.org/faq#faq-service
It states
And
And this regarding how many people use the service nightly.
And this regarding donations.
When it comes to access of the service it states
When looking at this video I fail to see how any council would approve the use of this vehicle for the stated purpose.
The facebook page of the organisation was spamming posts everyday to sell "Safe sleeps Christmas gift cards" throughout December 2018 and continues to post as recently as yesterday.
https://www.facebook.com/sleepbusaustralia/
To top it all off here is what their projects page states:
https://www.sleepbus.org/completed-projects
"
Projects
sleepbus One has been completed and we are currently in discussion with local councils to finalise our first service location.
"
It appears that this bus has never provided any sleeps for the public despite what is written on the side of it and the numerous dubious claims on the website posted above. I struggle to see what council could approve such the use of this vehicle.
I also wonder how soliciting donations in such a dubious manner cannot be considered as misleading and deceptive conduct.
The charity is registered and has an ABN
http://www.abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View?id=15609317937
However I fail to see any evidence that this organisation has provided any sleeps for homeless individuals. It appears that there has been a prototype bus made but I cannot see any evidence of it being used for the stated aim of this organisation.
The founders linkedin page seemed to be quite short on the specifics of his history and raises concerns regarding his chances of success with donated funds.
https://au.linkedin.com/in/sleepbussimon
- Serial Entrepreneur
Self Employed
May 1990 – October 2014 24 years 6 months
Australia
Multiple business owner; from a drama school at age 17, to cafe's, restaurants, retail and wholesale jewellery businesses, sports therapy clinics and business consultancy. From start-ups to rebuilds; a passion for business and a drive to continually reinvent and evolve.
He raised some funds through gofundme and appears to have built one bus that he shows off in public and videos online to generate more influx of funds.
https://www.gofundme.com/profile/simon-rowe-3uqjw
Here is an image of the bus.
It would seem the statement on the side is a little misleading if it has never been used in that manner.
From 4:40 in this video published July 31, 2017 he talks about how a donor can log in and see what is happening with a bus and how many sleeps have been provided etc. Yet 20 months later the sleepbus live page has not eventuated. https://www.sleepbus.org/sleepbuslive
On this page https://www.sleepbus.org/faq#faq-service
It states
How often does sleepbus operate?
sleepbus is run by Sleep Bus Ltd, 365 days per year; 8PM to 8AM. The operational hours have be chosen so that it fits in with community expectation and concern. sleepbus rolls in at 8PM each night, long after people have left work and then we leave by 8AM, before people return the next morning.
And
What is the sleepbus nightly schedule?
Here's how a typical sleepbus day looks:
- 7:00pm - sleepbus depart depot to approved locations for service
- 8.00pm - sleepbus arrives at the approved location
- 8.30pm - Onboarding of guests commences
- 10.00pm - Onboarding complete and the Caretaker conducts last checks
- 6.30am - Wake up call for all guests
- 6:45am - Offboarding of guests commences
- 7:45am - Offboarding complete
- 8:00am - sleepbus departs approved location
- 9:00am - sleepbus reset process begins back at depot (cleaning, repairs, maintenance, checks etc)
- 11:00am - Any sleepbus booked for site visits depart (Corporate engagement, School/University visits etc)
- 5:00pm - All sleepbus are back in depot for spot checks
And this regarding how many people use the service nightly.
How many people are provided a safe sleep each night?
Each sleepbus is fitted out with 22 sleep pods, providing 8,030 safe sleeps per year. To achieve our vision; we will build 319+ buses which will provide more than 2,000,000 safe sleeps per year right around Australia.
And this regarding donations.
How are my donations distributed?
100% of your donation is allocated to a sleepbus project; that's our 100% Model promise to you. When you donate or fundraise, every dollar goes to building and maintaining a sleepbus project. Private donors fund our Charity operating costs, so 100% of your money can go towards getting people off the street.
Donations are non refundable. Should a specific location campaign not meet its target amount within a twelve month period all donations may be allocated to another sleepbus project or held until such time as the original project location eventuates. Donors can continue to track the allocation of their donation via their sleepbus account page.
When it comes to access of the service it states
How do homeless people access our service?
In conjunction with the local council and community groups
When looking at this video I fail to see how any council would approve the use of this vehicle for the stated purpose.
The facebook page of the organisation was spamming posts everyday to sell "Safe sleeps Christmas gift cards" throughout December 2018 and continues to post as recently as yesterday.
https://www.facebook.com/sleepbusaustralia/
To top it all off here is what their projects page states:
https://www.sleepbus.org/completed-projects
"
Projects
sleepbus One has been completed and we are currently in discussion with local councils to finalise our first service location.
"
It appears that this bus has never provided any sleeps for the public despite what is written on the side of it and the numerous dubious claims on the website posted above. I struggle to see what council could approve such the use of this vehicle.
I also wonder how soliciting donations in such a dubious manner cannot be considered as misleading and deceptive conduct.