Stab-Proof Coats To Protect The Homeless

Homeless people are being given stab-proof coats that turn into sleeping bags to help keep them safe, amid a rise in reports of violent attacks on rough sleepers.

The homeless charity Crisis says people sleeping on the street are almost 17 times more likely to have been victims of violence and 15 times more likely to have suffered verbal abuse in the past year compared to the general public, according to a report in the Independent.

The coats, which cost £700 to make, are currently being trialled in Wales with plans to roll out initially in the south of the country. Aptly named the Roof Coat Bag, the garment is undergoing accreditation tests for water, fire and slash proofing, moisture wicking and safety to freezing temperatures. It also features military grade strong zips and fittings, and can be fitted with internal stab-proof pockets.

“Anybody who is wearing the roof coat is as safe as possible,” Frances Beecher, the chief executive of Llamau, a homeless charity in Cardiff, told the Guardian. “But this is a stopgap and must lead to getting the person into a safer environment, which is off the street.”

The initiative follows a string of reports on violent attacks on rough sleepers. On average the rough sleepers were dying at the age of 44 – a life expectancy nearly half that of people in stable housing – because of high rates of suicide, drug poisonings and alcohol-related issues.

As a result, Crisis called on the government to tackle the underlying causes of homelessness, which it attributes to a shortage of social housing and welfare payments failing to cover private rents. At the time, chief executive of Crisis Jon Sparkes said the government “must make sure that when people do become homeless, they are rehoused quickly, and with the support they need to keep their homes, whether it’s help to find employment, mental health support or drug and alcohol services.”

Mr Sparkes added: “Ultimately, we must stop these tragedies from happening year after year. Homelessness can and must be ended, but only if the root causes are tackled.”