Comfortable Sleeping Ideas for Homeless People
Rough sleepers find it difficult to drag around heavy coats and blankets, especially when wet.
Sleep Pod is a £30 rain/wind-resistant ‘sleeping tent’ that is lightweight and easy to carry.
Sheltersuit is a wind-waterproof jacket with a large hood to shield the face from rain and streetlights, with a built-in mattress & pillow. It was invented in The Netherlands, by someone who heard that the homeless father of a friend, had died from hypothermia.
Made from upcycled materials, it’s given out free to homeless people across the world.
General Info on Helping Homeless People
Also read about how to help homeless people with dogs.
England has around 250,000 homeless people (including rough sleepers, sofa-surfers and people living in bed-and-breakfasts). Here are ideas beyond just throwing money at what is a huge issue in society.
Homeless people can claim benefits, giving the address of a family member/friend, hostel or job centre. This helps to pay for food (and pet food), interview clothes and rent deposits. People without bank accounts can use the government’s Payment Exception Service to collect benefits from a local post office or PayPoint outlet.
If you see someone sleeping rough, send a report to StreetLink, whose outreach teams visit rough sleepers at night, to alert them of support to find benefits and accommodation (if the person is under 18, call 999).
