Australian charity turns parking lot into night-haven for homeless people
Last updated on: 19 November,2019 04:21 pm
Beddown initiative is transforming parking lots into safe havens for the homeless at night.
(Web Desk) - The organization called Beddown is helping the homeless get some much needed sleep.
According to Interesting Engineering, Homelessness is an issue that affects every major city in the world. It can be the result of many social and economic factors and it is devastating to those who experience it.
Beddown
Now, a new charity in Brisbane, Australia is seeking to help the homeless with an innovative idea called Beddown, this organization is transforming parking lots into safe havens for the homeless at night.
The idea is simple enough, put a couple of beds where the lot stations are and provide a couple of services such as access to doctors, dentists, and even hairdressers.
The aim of the initiative is to help the homeless have a good night’s sleep and get back on their feet. As such, they are also given new clothes and a space to clean themselves.
“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. 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” writes Beddown on their Instagram page.
The founder of the charity Norman McGillivray thought of the idea while walking through an empty parking lot and reached out to Secure Parking, one of the largest car park operators in Australia, to set up a trial. Although currently just available in Brisbane, Beddown’s site says the charity is aiming for other destinations soon.
The charity shared some statistics from their Beddown trials and they were impressive. 41 guests used their beds during the pilot season and 100% said they felt safe.
They rated both their beds and their sleep a 4.5 out of 5. Sadly, the youngest person who tried to access the service was just 15 years old.
It is a tough world out there and we are glad to see some people are doing something to make it better. Could you see a Beddown coming near you? Would you support the initiative?