Survival Backpacks for the Homeless

Survival Packs for the newly homeless are essential to giving the individual everything they need to survive outdoors for three seasons of the year.  In the winter, code blue shelters such as ours are able to provide shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities to support the homeless population as well as direct them to resources to support them in reaching long term self sufficiency.  The remaining 8 months of the year, survival kits such as these can be the difference between life and death, enabling them to use camping facilites or state parks as a place to shelter.

Each water proof backpack contains:

Camo tent $30
Camo tarp  $13
Light weight sleeping bag $25
Compact cooking gear and fuel cubes  $20
12 instant meals (600 calories each) $24
Lantern $12
Waterproof matches $2
Utility tool  $6
Mess Kit  $20
Collapsable water containers 1 - 16 oz & 1 - 5 liter $20
First Aid Kit  $20
Survival Handbook  $8

These life lines will be distributed based on crisis calls received to our hotline.  Each kit costs approximately $200.  This provides a viable means for outdoor living.  It also gives unsheltered individuals the opportunity to use the local food pantries.  Without cooking supplies most food pantry items are useless for those living on the street or in the woods. 

This is an outreach project of Coalition to Shelter and Support the Homeless, a 501c3 non profit charity based in Central Bucks County.