[The Empowerment Plan] Detroit, Mich., U.S.A.

Veronika Scott, a student in product design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., has designed the Elements S[survival] Coat for homeless people. Made from Tyvek®, wool or a synthetic, PVC tubing and plastic tubing, and Velcro®, the coat is self heated and waterproof, and transforms into a sleeping bag at night. The Elements S Coat will be made by the homeless, who will be paid, fed and housed to create the coats for those living in deep homelessness: jobs for those that desire them and coats for those that need them—at no cost. The coats are at the center of The Empowerment Plan, an effort to address the needs of Detroit’s homeless, and will be available for the public to purchase for homeless people for about $50. Scott hopes her plan will eventually be adopted in other cities as well.