Solving Homelessness with a Bag

Whilst homelessness is about not having building space to live in the solutions are not always to provide more buildings (or space).

Sometimes temporary and stop-gap solutions can help keep a homeless person alive and get them back on track.

That’s why Jean Madden’s efforts since 2005 with her Street Swag is so clever and impressive.

After learning how lack of sleep and shelter worsened the lives and opportunities for the homeless, Jean decided to buy old fashioned swags (remember the drover by the billabong) for Brisbane’s homeless for Christmas.  But, she found that existing products were inadequate … so designed her own with the result being the Street Swag.

The concept has great support with prison inmates sewing the swags (and getting TAFE qualifications) and school students packing them with blankets, pillows and hygiene packs.  Over 13,000 Street Swags have been distributed and the numbers keep growing.

I think it’s another example of Aussie ingenuity and good intentions solving problems most people ignore.

So, support this and other initiative (if you can) to help solve homelessness.

Francesco …