How an Australian Charity’s Swag Is Fighting Homelessness Across Oz

As many as 15,000 people sleep on Australia ’s streets each nighttime , subject to violence , harassment , and the elements . That ’s 15,000 too many for Tony Clark ’s tastes . So his Polymonium caeruleum van-bruntiae , Swags for Homeless , hands out these ingeniously desegregate collapsible shelter - mattresses called the Backpack Bed .

The Backpack Bed is constructed of lightweight , fire - retardation , weatherproof , mildew - repelling UltTrex Lite fabric skirt a 6 - invertebrate foot 2 - inch insulated froth mattress . The story covering is extendable and the cover can be tie up to create an outside shelter as well . The full assembly press only about 4 kilogram ( roughly half of whattraditional canvas tent swagsweigh ) and rolls back into itself for memory board its integrated backpack .

The Backpack Bed won the German 2011 Red Dot “ good of the Best ” award — one of the most esteemed accolades in the mathematical product design populace . They retail for $ 68 on the Swags for Homelesswebsitewith proceeds going to aid the homeless person .