SLEEPING outside in a cardboard box isn't an ideal way to spend a Thursday night, but for some locals it made perfect sense to raise awareness about homelessness.

About 75 people brought their sleeping bags and beanies last night to the Tweed Masonic Centre to support Fred's Place, an intervention and prevention service for homeless people based at Tweed Heads.

Jason McDonald, service manager of Fred's Place, said the sleep-out raised awareness about the issues of homelessness and those struggling in the community while raising much-needed funds.

"We've got a large cross section of the community here from university students right through to local business people and members of the community, and I think it just shows that the Tweed Heads community does care about people and they want to help find solutions to ongoing problems,” Mr McDonald said.

The fundraising event beat the targeted goal of $20,000 with participants raising $35,000 for Fred's Place. Mr McDonald said organisers were overwhelmed by support from the community, with numbers doubling for the second annual event.

"Judging by who we see coming through and what we've raised from the event, it proves the Tweed community have responded really well and are showing their support by being here tonight,” Mr McDonald said.

Stuart Burrows, general manager of Seagulls Club, participated in the sleep-out for the second year and said it raised much-needed exposure of homelessness in the Tweed.

"It's only a little taste as this project isn't really about the sleep-out but more about bringing awareness, raising some much-needed funds and being about a part of the local community,” Mr Burrows said.

Mr Burrows said Fred's Place offered a safe place for those who were homeless.

"It's giving people who are doing it tough some care and some support not only with the services they provide, like counselling and access to computers, but just also the opportunity to come in and interact with others and get their clothes washed,” Mr Burrows said.

Since opening its doors in June 2013, Fred's Place has helped many people return to more stable living conditions. In the past year the centre has helped house more than 500 people including Glenn McDonald who has since found work at a local restaurant.

"I had cooking skills before I was homeless but Fred's helped me get the job and they helped me get some accommodation as well,” Mr McDonald said.

Fred's Place helps up to 80 people each day.