Why doesn’t Backpack Bed for Homeless employ people experiencing homelessness to manufacture the Backpack Beds?
Backpack Bed for Homeless designs and quality-controls Backpack Beds in Australia. Manufacturing is undertaken in Asia at an accredited factory that meets recognised international worker standards (the same facility also produces international disaster relief tents).
When the charity was first established, we spent over a year attempting to find an Australian manufacturer. However, large-scale textile manufacturing of this type is no longer widely available in Australia.
Establishing and operating our own factory would require substantial resources, capital investment, technical expertise, equipment, materials sourcing, and ongoing operational management. As we receive no government funding and rely on donations, we are not currently in a position to undertake manufacturing directly.
Our primary focus is delivering practical, life-saving protection to people sleeping rough as efficiently and sustainably as possible.
We remain open to future opportunities should sustainable, well-supported employment models become viable.