The lifesaver £30 Sleep Pod warms the homeless in freezing temperatures

27 January 2024 , 18:47

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Rough sleeper in pod is handed a hot drink (Image: Ferrari Press Agency)

Costing just £30, this hi-tech tent is proving a lifesaver for the homeless out in the winter freeze.

The Sleep Pod uses body heat to raise the temperature inside to 5C, even when it is as cold as -16C outside. And the prism-shaped tents created using building insulation – a fire-retardant bubble wrap with double-sided aluminium foil – fold into a bag for easy portability.

They have been handed to 1,200 rough sleepers by nearly 40 charities, including Porchlight. The group, which aids homeless and vulnerable people in Kent, gave out 40. Spokesman Chris Thomas said: “Getting help to people when it’s this cold is a matter of life and death. If you’re homeless, there’s no escape freezing temperatures.” Some people, such as domestic abuse victims, may feel anxious being inside and near others.

The compact Sleep Pod fits in a bag (Ferrari Press Agency)

Chris said: “Sleep Pods keep them safe while we work at developing a relationship and earning trust. It’s likely lives have been saved thanks to Sleep Pod’s support.” The tent was developed by pals Pete Kenyon, Ian Ashby and Justin Devereux while volunteering at a refugee camp in France.

The prism-shaped tents are built to withstand the elements (Ferrari Press Agency)

More than 10,000 have been handed out in the UK and Europe, plus war-torn Ukraine and earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria. Pete said they get messages from rough sleepers saying the pods keep them safe and warm. He added: “As long as there are rough sleepers, we will do what is required to facilitate construction and distribution of pods. It is clearly not a long-term solution but is an emergency aid.”

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Chris called for homelessness services to get more funding, adding that the Government “needs to tackle issues that cause people to become homeless in the first place”.

Tory Suella Braverman, sacked as Home Secretary in November, had wanted to restrict the use of tents by rough sleepers, describing homelessness as a “lifestyle choice”.

Emily Jane-Heap