The Albany Community Foundation’s annual fundraising drive for Homelessness Week made a record-breaking $72,000 this year.

The fundraiser, previously called the Big Sleepout, was rebranded this year as Shelter Together, and took over the Albany PCYC last Friday as a night for the community to come together and raise money and awareness for those sleeping rough.

This year’s event raised $72,321 — a new record for the annual effort.

Community organisations including Pivot Support Services, Anglicare, Palmerston, and Albany Youth Support set up stalls inside the PCYC building, and attendees were entertained with live music throughout the evening from the North Albany Senior High School Year 9 band, the Great Southern Grammar band, the Albany Shantymen, and Rusty Cage.

Later in the evening, a panel discussion about the realities of homelessness drove home the importance of the cause everyone was there to support, and exposed some of the harsh realities of not having a place to call home.

Albany Community Foundation executive officer Laura Alexander said it was amazing to see so many members of the community show up.

“It was great to see so many people come together last Friday night in support of this important cause,” she said.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, donated or volunteered in support of Shelter Together.

“The community support shows what we can achieve when we work together to advocate for greater awareness and understanding of homelessness, and to support local people experiencing housing insecurity.”