Mobile power for the homeless

The mobile phone is very important for homeless people – much more important than for people who have a fixed phone line, a computer, e-mail etc. The mobile is often their only point of contact to an already fragile network. But how do they charge their phone when they don’t have a home with a plug? As the situation is now, they charge their mobiles in shelters or public places like train stations, but the plugs are often in great demand. Homeless people like to be self-sufficient, and the fact that their mobile phones make them dependent on specific charging locations can be a mental burden.

Our solution is a Solar Bag where the homeless people can charge their mobiles outdoors with natural sunlight. This is both practical and good for the environment. The Solar Bag gives them the security that they can always charge their mobile and be connected to family and friends.

The Agenda Center Bispebjerg, Hus Forbi (a organisation for the homeless) and Faktor 3 are working together on this project, where 500 Solar Bags are distributed for free to the homeless, who earn money by selling the Hus Forbi newspaper. The project will start in 2009, if we can obtain enough funding. Hus Forbi is responsible for distributing the solar bags and the plugs for the mobiles to the Hus Forbi salespeople. The bags are meant to be used as a bag for the newspapers. They are free of charge and optional.