2024 - Shelter of light

The exact number of homeless people in Poland is difficult to estimate. Different sources give different figures, and official statistics do not always reflect reality. According to 2019 data from the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy, there are about 30,300 homeless people in Poland. Unofficial estimates, however, say that the number could be much higher, up to 300,000! It is important to remember that homelessness is a dynamic phenomenon and the number of people experiencing it can change depending on the season, social events and other factors.

Urban furniture with a photovoltaic panel and built-in heater is an innovative solution that could have a significant impact on supporting people in crisis of homelessness. Social problems it could solve: People in homelessness crisis often do not have access to hot water, making it difficult to maintain personal hygiene and prepare meals. Providing facilities to heat meals could help combat malnutrition among the homeless. Lack of safe places to rest – this furniture can serve as a safe place to rest, in the absence of places in relief shelters. Lighting generated by the panels can increase safety at night in areas where the furniture is installed. Families, including those with young children, can benefit from the ability to heat milk or baby food, which is especially important for children’s health.

As residents of Wroclaw in Poland, we believe that such an innovation could help many people living without a roof over their heads in large cities. It is important to remember that homelessness is a dynamic phenomenon and the number of people experiencing it can change depending on the season, social events and other factors. The main locations we planned for this project are parks where homeless people can often be found because benches and recreational spaces are easily accessible to them. Implementation of such furniture can be part of broader support programs for the homeless, combining innovative technology with real social support.

With this project, we wanted to provide decent conditions for the homeless to get through the night and rest. At times when night shelters are overcrowded, the homeless have nowhere to sleep, and the projection of benches with obstacles makes it even more difficult for them to live with dignity. Sleeping capsule is not only a safe place to stay overnight, but also a place that helps to survive the hardest season of the year in our region, that is, winter during which temperatures go below several degrees Celsius. People sleeping outside are at risk of frostbite and even death. Capsule construction consists of a double layer of wood and an insulating mat to maintain the right temperature inside.