With annual Christmas spirit in the air, we can become so distracted by the tribulations of our own busy lives that we forget about those who will be spending the holidays outdoors, simply trying to survive the cold.
Homelessness is a massively underfunded issue across the country. Resources such as food, shelter, and toiletries are vital for those who will not live through dropping temperatures without them. Just one warm bed can mean the difference between life and death for someone.
One Australian charity is tackling homelessness in an incredibly creative way.
Beddown was formed after founder Norman McGillivray realized how unsafe sleeping conditions were for homeless populations across the country.
The organization takes spaces that are empty/unused at night and converts them into shelters for those who need a warm and safe place to sleep.
Beddown is currently holding a two-week trial with a parking garage company in Brisbane called Secure Parking.
The charity also provides guests with access to medical care, dental care, hairdressers, new clothing, and bathroom areas where they can shower and shave.
Their aim is to make the experience as comforting and accessible as possible.
“We will look to get as close as we can to a proper comfortable bed to provide the homeless with a great night’s sleep is our ultimate goal,” their Instagram page reads, “Sleep deprivation is a massive issue for our homeless, so being in a place that offers shelter and is safe, secure and comfortable we believe will have a big impact on those who use Beddown.”
The results of the two-week trial have been nothing short of astounding.
Their website reports that during the pilot:
-41 guests used Beddown over the duration of the pilot.
-77% of them were male and 23% were female.
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-The guests rated the sleep 4.5 out of 5 and the beds 4.5 out of 5 on average.
-100% of the guests said they felt safe during their stay.
-Due to overcapacity, 9 people were turned away in one night.
-The youngest person who tried to access Beddown was just 15 years old.
These statistics show that the trial not only successfully helped many people, but that the area needs larger spaces with more capacity in order to properly care for those who need shelter.
“Although as expected we had a few challenges to overcome, it was awesome to start bringing Beddown to life.”
“Beddown will provide an immediate response for those who sleep rough to access safe, secure shelter and access to a comfy bed and a great night’s sleep,” the Beddown team wrote on Instagram, “We will work with our other collaborative partners to provide long term solutions to transition our guests into accommodation, education and employment opportunities and ultimately put ourselves out of business (this is the vision).”
h/t: Bored Panda
