AWARD YEAR
2017
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being
KEYWORDS
homelessness, poverty, clothing
COUNTRY
United States of America
DESIGNED BY
The Empowerment Plan
WEBSITE
http://www.empowermentplan.org/#!the-coat/cass
The EMPWR Coat
A warm coat that turns into a sleeping bag for homeless people with nowhere to go.
This warm coat expands into a full sleeping bag for homeless individuals with nowhere warm to stay at night. When not in use, the coat folds into a bag that can be carried over the shoulder. The coat is produced by people who were or currently are homeless themselves, and they are paid a living wage for their labor. The finished coats are provided to the homeless free of charge. People can make an $100 donation to sponsor one of the coats, which are made from recycled and sustainable material. For every 1000 coats distributed, there is a savings of almost $60,000 in health care expenses related to hypothermia and other challenges that come with lack of warm housing.