Function

The Empowerment Plan in Detroit, Michigan is a product and system in which homeless individuals are provided with knowledge and skills that empowers them to easily construct, for themselves, an Element S coat that stores the wearer’s body heat and transforms into a heated tent at night. The Element S coat is simple to make at no cost to the individual.

Inspiration

1 in 47 are homeless in Detroit. There are over 18,000 homeless people in need of shelter on any given night. The only places where homeless can sleep at night churches, once they fill up there is nowhere else to go, making other means of survival imperative. The initial inspiration came from a downtown Detroit play ground. That park, like many others in the city, had a play structure draped in tarps or used clothes, the ground was blanketed in trash and needles. Many homeless can be found dead in abandoned building or freezing in these makeshift homes. They will travel for hours in the winter to stay warm and get food but it that innate human pride that has them trying to shelter themselves. The product needed to become something that gave the homeless a sense of pride in return. I didn't give it to them, it's not charity, I am supplying the tools for with they can do it for themselves.

Development

Beginning with research, I went to the only shelter that takes everyone with no restrictions on being sober or clean. I visited three times a week for the entire semester. Initially I received at best cold looks and general disinterest, at worst swearing and outright malice. The rocky start soon faded as I continued to show up as I had promised and worked with them on the coat development. Only after this much constant communication and trust did I realize what their true needs were and that what I was designing needed to work for their sakes. I soon became, I believe fondly, known as "the coat lady." Currently the Element S coat is in its third stage of development and will be ready to be produced by the homeless, with the donated supplies, in Fall 2010. I am not advocating living on the street. I am trying to give back a sense of pride, teach a marketable sewing skill, and offer an aspect of survival.