The American initiative HomeMore Project has unveiled an innovative solar-powered backpack called Makeshift Traveler, designed for people experiencing homelessness. It combines the functions of a backpack, sleeping bag and pillow to provide temporary shelter and basic comfort for those without a home.
The backpack has a rigid, water-resistant shell that protects personal belongings from rain and dirt. A solar panel is built into the top, which charges the internal battery. It can be used to power phones or other devices via a USB port. When electricity is available, the backpack can be charged with a standard cable.
Read also:
Homeless people in Ukraine: how the war has exacerbated the problem
The bottom part features a built-in nylon-covered cushion and a double zipper system to protect your belongings from theft. The set also includes a sleeping bag made of nylon on the outside and soft fabric on the inside to keep you warm at night.
The backpack is also equipped with practical items: a radio with headphones, a flashlight with three modes, a raincoat, a water bottle, a set of hygiene products, a security lock, and a pair of warm socks. It comes with a folding tent that can serve as a temporary shelter in bad weather.
The HomeMore Project team spent over a year and a half developing Makeshift Traveler, gathering feedback from homeless people in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighbourhood. They distributed the first batch of over 1,200 backpacks in 25 cities across California. In 2025, the organisation plans to introduce a fourth, updated version, increasing the number of deliveries to over 2,000 units.
The founders of the initiative emphasise that this backpack should become a symbol of the end of homelessness and the beginning of a new stage in life.
Read also:
Ukrainian refugees in the UK risk losing their jobs and homes
