Public Safety Alert about Jean Madden's Street Swags (Queensland based charity).

Swags for Homeless has no affiliation with the Jean Madden charity 'Street Swags' or their potentially life threatening product handed to 13,000+ homeless around Australia.

As announced in media. The Australian charity 'Street Swags' (founded by Jean Madden Young Australian of the Year finalist) offers a non-fire retardant canvas swag without even a basic zip, no mosquito protection mesh, and a foam mattress (116cm long) that absorbs water - and when alight explodes into flames - would you sleep on that?

FIRE DANGER - FIRE DANGER

The ACCC in conjunction with a Government Dept - are investigating (yet to come to conclusion) and have made contact with the Jean Madden charity 'Street Swags' .

Fact. Homeless pregnant women, children as young as 4 years old and mentally ill / physically impaired unknowingly sleep in a potentially life threatening Street Swag 'swag' manufactured by the Australian Government (prisoners in NSW & QLD) and nationally distributed to charities around Australia. Many charities are not aware of the potential danger.

The Office of Fair Trading - Product Safety Unit are now examining fire safety risks associated with swags.

Oxford dictionary - definition of word 'investigation'. To make a careful study of a (thing) in order to discover the facts about it.

After a flame test comparison between the potentially lethal Street Swag (designed by Jean Madden) and the safer fire retardant 'Backpack Bed' designed by Swags for Homeless - major concerns immediately arose for the safety of those homeless who sleep in a 'Street Swag' ... so called 'swag'. It is unethical for us to suppress this public safety notice - it is for the safety and dignity of homeless that these video results are published.

The video results clearly show that the Jean Madden, Street Swag - handed to homeless
- uses both a highly flammable fabric and mattress foam in their products.

The legal ramifications for any charity or politician that endorses a Street Swag ‘swag’ are concerning. It is only a matter of time before homeless lives could be lost or a serious burn injury occurs.

When briefly lit with a small flame - the test revealed that both the fabric and the foam mattress used in the Street Swag ‘swag’ exploded into flames. The flame test was used to simulate that of a cigarette lighter - a typical item many homeless use.

Everyone is amazed what Queensland Premier Bligh said about the Street Swag 'swags' “.. provide vulnerable Queenslanders with a very practical tool, aimed at reducing some of the catastrophic health impacts of homelessness.”

Swags for Homeless has had feedback that some charities are angry about the poor quality of the Street Swag 'swags' - but have no choice but to hand them hand out due to the crisis of homelessness in Australia today.

Chris, a rough sleeper in Melbourne, says on video “The Street Swag, I just find it very unsafe - like a fire trap ... I wouldn’t even let my daughter sleep in one.”

The speed of which the Street Swag ‘swag’ canvas fabric and foam exploded into flame was frightening and draws to attention the need that only quality and safe products should be handed out to homeless people.

Homeless charities around Australia have an obligation to ensure sleeping products handed out to homeless have a level of fire safety built in.

Most shockingly - correctional centres in both QLD and NSW manufacture the potentially dangerous ‘swags’ for Street Swags. The Premiers of QLD and NSW in addition to their respective state Correctional Services departments - need to review the ramifications of what happens when they knowingly make unsafe products for homeless Australians. A spokesman of the Federal Gov. Product Safety Unit - said it was ironic that prisoners who make the Jean Madden 'Street Swag' sleep in fire retardant beds ... but the homeless they are made for don't.

Why do prisons and hospitals have the requirement for fire retardants beds?

In case of self harm or accidental harm - due to illness, or physcial impairment.
Some studies show that 52% of homeless have a form of mental illness. This is in addition to those who experience substance abuse and may not be capable of protecting themselves when using a cigarette lighter for something so basic as illumination at night. What about falling asleep while smoking?

Fire kills. Homeless have enough problems ... they don't need potentially dangerous products being handed to them or being manufactured by the Australian Government or politicians acting negligent when informed of potential danger.

Daniel and Mitch experiencing homelessness in Melbourne commented on video “That for people to endorse this product (the Street Swag) is to ... sell out the homeless.”

Floyd, 26 a young man who has experienced homelessness since the age of 10 has slept in the Street Swag ‘swag’ and says in a video interview “I can say that the construction of it is pretty low budget, it’s made by people who have no consideration for the health and safety of other people who are on the street - or may not have the experience or practical needs to make something for people in the harsh environment of the street. The construction of it is 3rd rate compared to the Backpack Bed made by Swags for Homeless which is like a Rolls Royce compared to this thing (Street Swag ‘swag’) this (Street Swag ‘swag’) is a rust bucket.”

Floyd goes on to say about the use of the Street Swag “.. I feel like a refugee walking down the street ... I feel undignified... a homeless person who is not worth anything.”

It does appear that fire safety for homeless has not been thought about by Premiers, manufacturers or the designer of the Street Swag ‘swag’.

Rough sleeper Floyd says on video “If you were to sell something that is a fire hazard to a child - you would be run out of business ... you wouldn’t sell a fire hazard to a child - so why sell it to homeless people. Are we (homeless) that bad? Do they want to get rid of us?”

When samples of the UltTrex Lite fabric and mattress foam used in the Backpack Bed by Swags for Homeless was exposed to the same flame neither exploded nor disappeared into a fiery dust. Instead, the fabric very lightly curled (only after many long attempts to set it on fire) and the mattress only slightly smolded and then self extinguished (again only after many attempts to set it on fire). The fire retardant properties of the Backpack Bed are amazing.

Swags for Homeless highlights that while the Backpack Bed designed by Swags for Homeless provided to homeless is fire retardant - that it should not be used as a fire protection device. The fire retardant properties are there to add dignity and provide a level of safety to homeless.

Major David Eldridge of the Salvation Army writes in a letter to Swags for Homeless, "As an interim support measure the provision of warm, waterproof bedding becomes important and we appreciate being able to provide people with your well-designed swags".

80-90% of homeless are turned away nightly from some shelters. When turned away a Backpack Bed is better than nothing.*

A tax deductible donation of $68 (AUS) will give the famous Swags for Homeless (patent pending) dignified Backpack Bed to a homeless person:

• is both a functioning Backpack and Bed in one
• is made from UltTrex Lite fabric which is:
• fire retardant
• breathable
• anti-mildew treated
• waterproof up to 5500 mm
• is a zipped unit
• incorporates mozzie mesh, head & foot
• lockable inner zipped pocket with supplied key lock
• 3 external pockets
• 3 in-built rope supports
• adjustable and padded backpack straps
• double stitched seams
• KEVLAR security loop
• Extra long (190cm long) EVA special formula foam mattress is:
  • fire retardant foam
  • non water absorbing
  • anti-mildew treated
  • silver insulated backing

Charities agree the Swags for Homeless Backpack Bed (swag) is suitable for homeless. In Melbourne alone there are 42 organisations who are currently handing out the fire retardant Backpack Bed. We find that homeless people are our biggest fans - going to their local charities and saying why can’t we have one? The homeless charity sees the quality and then calls us - word spreads fast.

100% of charities that have also been presented with the superior Swags for Homeless Backpack Bed (swag) and who have also seen the plain folded over canvas product - clearly not a fire safe product offered by Street Swags - all say there is simply no comparison. The Swags for Homeless Backpack Bed always wins on quality and dignity.

When comparing between the huge differences in quality - some charity workers and volunteers are disgusted, some are angry. When a homeless person is finally given a Swags for Homeless Backpack Bed a shine in their eye appears - dignity.

Swags for Homeless promotes the mantra "Treat people the way the way you want to be treated". Nobody likes the thought of sleeping in a potential fireball - which is why the Swags for Homeless Backpack Bed (swag) is in such heavy demand.

Test results of the potentially lethal Street Swag also found:

• Streets Swags states (in multiple interviews) it only takes 10 minutes to make their product
  - imagine an outdoor bed for homeless being manufactured in only 10 minutes?
• is roughly cut, not even basic hemmed edges
• is made of canvas that is quick to ignite into flames (see video evidence)
• is NOT full body length protection
• has a mattress that is only 116cm... How many homeless are 116cm tall?
• has a mattress that absorbs water - would you sleep on a wet mattress?
  (homeless complain about mould)
• has a foam mattress that is quick to ignite into flames - would you feel safe?
• does NOT even have a zip to go around the body - what about rain, wind, bugs?
• does NOT have basic mosquito protection
• is difficult to roll back up

The latest Swags for Homeless model even has tape sealed seams. Yes, tape seal. Most swags sold in shops don't have tape seal - is it no wonder people want to buy it? Does this sound like something a homeless person would want - you better believe it.

The public, corporations, and Premiers of other states should all be careful and perhaps thoughtful of the question - would they be happy with a piece of canvas folded over, without even a zip to go around the body, with a water absorbing mattress under them - or a Backpack Bed which people actually want to buy?

Swags for Homeless is currently handing out enough FREE Backpack Beds for each of the 845 rough sleepers of Melbourne (ABS 2006) - which started in Swags for Homeless Week Nov 2009. A world first case study for other cities to follow - demographic surveys are filled in for each unit handed out. Swags for Homeless Weeks 2010 will be National (starts May 2010) - we plan to give one to all rough sleepers (ABS 2006) in all cities of Australia.

Written by Tony Clark, Founder & Chairman of Swags for Homeless Ltd.
Swags for Homeless has no affiliation with Jean Madden, Street Swags, or their potentially dangerous product handed to homeless.

Below is the fire retardant Backpack Bed by Swags for Homeless
- make no confusion - give only dignity to homeless people.

Charities are screaming for our help
- the demand outweighs our donations.

Ex-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudy highlighted that 80-90% of homeless are turned away nightly from some shelters.* However, 100% are turned away from 98% of towns around Australia - simply because there is no solution.

Does the Government have a crisis homeless plan for this winter . . . NO.

Salvation Army, Mission Australia, St. Vincent de Paul, Uniting Care, Rosies, Ozenham, Hanover, Sacred Heart Mission + over 30 other charities around Australia agree our famous Backpack Bed™ (swag) is an effective and dignified interim crisis measure.

Donate Safely On-line

$68 (AUS) tax deduction helps a homeless person.

How many can you buy?

Let's show that Australians do care for Australia's most needy of needy!

How needy do they have to be ... they sleep on the street. Mercy.