Softer Streets Inc
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : f********e@g***l.c*m
Mission Statement
Softer Streets Inc. provides durable, water-resistant, insulated, easily portable sleeping mats to people experiencing homelessness. We aim to supply every person who regularly sleeps on the streets with a high-quality, easily cleaned mat to provide insulation, reduce bug infestations, and help prevent chronic injuries from sleeping on cold, unyielding surfaces. This harm reduction strategy fills a critical gap between the shelter and the sidewalk.
About This Cause
Huddled in doorways and tucked into underpasses, tens of thousands of Americans sleep on bedding made of cardboard, plastic tarp and thin fabrics that offer little protection from the cold, hard concrete beneath. On a single night, more than 568,000 people are homeless across the United States. Some sleep in shelters, but more than 200,000 people do not. Hypothermia begins to set in at 50°F. In even the mildest U.S. cities, nighttime temperatures often plummet to below 20°F. All over the country, the story is the same: Insufficient shelter space leaves people no other choice but to sleep outside, at the mercy of the elements. CNN journalist Amy La Porte began Softer Streets Inc. as a passion project to help those in her own downtown Atlanta neighborhood. An accomplished skier and high-mountain climber, Amy is no stranger to sleeping perched on snowy mountains, and knows the value of quality camping mats to counter the effects of hypothermia. In fact, experienced climbers and backcountry skiers live by the principle of conduction: If they have only one item to use for warmth while sleeping, they put it on the ground rather than covering their body with it. This prevents the deadly drainage of heat away from the body by the cold ground. In the winter of 2016, Amy began buying sleeping mats for the homeless. Months after handing out those original mats, she still saw them slung over the shoulders of those who had received them. Realizing the importance of this one item -- that the most transient people prioritized keeping it among the few things they carried -- Amy knew she needed to expand. Amy partnered with her journalism colleague, Nicole File, and began Softer Streets. Within days, she was contacted by Klymit, one of America's premier camping outfitters. They had been searching for someone to donate mats to, but no such organization existed. Klymit immediately partnered with Softer Streets to supply their top-quality mats at or below cost. Our Klymit mats are ergonomic, providing support and a secure sleeping position that promotes restful sleep and prevents pressure injuries. They are feather-light and roll up to about the size of a thermos. Their quick-inflation and quick-deflation valve allows them to be air-filled in just 10-15 breaths (Nicole, our resident asthmatic, confirms this!) and emptied in less than 30 seconds. They are water resistant and, unlike sleeping bags, are easily disinfected with wipes or liquid and best of all, pests hate them. They can fit inside many sleeping bags for added comfort and warmth. They are built rugged, and we have encountered clients who report that they are still in perfect condition even after a year or more of daily use on rough concrete.