MELBOURNE: Backpack Bed for Homeless


Backpack Bed for Homeless will launch GoodNight Melbourne on Thursday (Aug. 7) at 10 am at Bolton Clarke, Port Melbourne, to fight back and keep rough sleepers alive.
Research shows that in one night in inner city Melbourne, over 300 people will sleep on the streets, and 1022 Victorians sleep rough on any given night.
Dubbed the ‘survival gap’, seven frontline homeless agencies have joined with Backpack Bed for Homeless for the launch, which was previously successfully rolled out in Tasmania.
Every donation from the public to GoodNight Melbourne provides emergency shelter to local homeless agencies to support rough sleepers in the form of a Backpack Bed and a Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag.
“People are so desperate and feel there is no hope. They end up losing dignity and for some, their lives. Nobody should ever feel as though there is no way out. Hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot are deadly for rough sleepers in Melbourne,” says Tony Clark, Founder and CEO of Backpack Bed for Homeless.
The program provides 302 Backpack Beds and Fire-Retardant Sleeping Bags for distribution across inner Melbourne. Anglicare Victoria, Bolton Clarke Homeless Persons Program, cohealth – Innerspace, cohealth Central City – Melbourne, Community Support Frankston, Holy Fools and VincentCare – Ozanam Community Centre are all leading the way for GoodNight Melbourne.
The Backpack Bed is an immediate human rights, life-saving solution that critically bridges the gap until longer-term housing is accessed.
The Backpack Bed is a 2.9kg ergonomic backpack that holds 135L of belongings and converts within seconds into an emergency Shelter.
Designed for harsh all-weather conditions, the system is a fire-retardant, water-proof, 3-window shelter with built-in mattress. When matched with a Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag, dignity and survival becomes reality.
Founded by CEO Tony Clark, Backpack Bed for Homeless is an Australian Human Rights Award-winning national charity.
GoodNight Melbourne will launch at Bolton Clarke, Port Melbourne on Thursday (Aug. 27) at 10am.
For more information or to donate, visit GoodNightMelbourne.org
Cheryl Threadgold