Solutions

- Recruitment of sane, able bodied homeless people to work for a bed, they can also continue to work once they receive their bed and they will be financially compensated for their service. This hopefully will get them employed and off the streets.
 * Methods of Creation & Distribution**

It is our number one goal to get homeless people involved in creating the beds for themselves. We believe that if we can get them involved it will change their lifestyles, and maybe some of them will get them off the streets. However, we know that this won't happen right away, so volunteers would get the manufacturing started. In addition, in order to begin this process we need to get the materials required, some companies may help and donate, other's we'd have to purchase. This clearly will a non-profit organization. This may be an option if the money is available, therefore this design becomes very popular and had a following. To start off a warehouse would be practical.
 * Questions**
 * Who is going to physically create the bed design?**
 * Are we going to outsource it?**
 * What location is best for the creation? A warehouse/factory?**

Dan Wilkinson really likes the disposable bed idea because he feels it is the most realistic, most affordable, and the easiest to implement. It is indeed cost-effective but it doesn't provide a long term solution. No matter how cheap the disposable beds cost, they still cost some form of money; money the unemployed homeless don't have. Also, since the disposable bed is made out of cardboard, it is very easily destroyed. What happens when the bed is accidentally destroyed early in the day and the owner can't get to a store early enough to purchase another? Where do they sleep that night? These are questions that determine what the final solution we implement will be.
 * Design Solution** **(Brainstorming)**

The bed on wheels/mobile unit is a good idea, but not realistic. We don't want to design something that big and bulky. A lot of the times, homeless people want to //travel// light. After doing some ethnographic research we found that the homeless less little belongings party because it's easier for them to get around the city.

**Final Design Solution** Our design will be a similar structure to the recline-able stretcher found on []. However, it will be a bit heavier than eleven pounds because different material is used in addition it is not just a stretcher but a bed made of synthetic fiber/ thinsulate which will add to the weight. The structure base of the bed will be made out of plastic, is cheaper and lighter to carry making it more mobile. The material used to line the bed will be thinsulate. Included is a sleeping bag which can also be used as a blanket or jacket and this will be made out of Tyvek (trademark of DuPont flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers ) (the white plastic home insulation material) and wool/other synthetic materials. The bed and sleeping bag, when folded will fit into a back pack made from a mix of nylon rayon polyester fabric which will repel water and help keep everything clean and dry. In addition it is more affordable considering that there is no solar powered heating, the material used somewhat makes up for that.

We tried to create a prototype and came to the reality that this is solution is on the expensive side. Therefore as a group we decided that it would be a good idea to have some sort of fundraising event to help with the initial financing. This can be from anything as simple as a bakesale or silent auction or holding a black tie event where portions of the ticket costs will go towards the production, at the same time, the audience can be informed on this problem and become educated.

When it comes to actually manufacturing the the bed, carrying bag and sleeping bag/coat, our key idea is to get the homeless people involved. The reason being is that it might strike a change in their lifestyle, and make them want to get back into the work force. The result hopefully with be fewer individuals on the streets, and that is the goal we want to achieve in the long run.


 * Rough Sketches**


 * Carry Bag** **Sleeping Bag/ Coat**


 * Collapsible Bed**

The system process begins with the recruitment of sane able bodies homeless for participatory design
 * Our vision is to design something effective in the long run. This is what the homeless would benefit from the most considering the fact that shelter is a daily necessity for every human in the world irregardless of age, occupation or gender. Our plan is not just to design a machine or piece of equipment but to design a SYSTEM that revolves round this solution.**


 * Prototype Design**


 * Carry Bag Sleeping Bag/Coat**




 * Collapsible Bed**