Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia is a donation-funded national charity that designs and distributes the Backpack Bed — a patented 6-in-1 portable shelter — and a Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack to street-sleeping homeless individuals through 1,100+ partner agencies across Australia and 8 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersCleveland, Brisbane, Australia
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia does
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia (legally Swags for Homeless Ltd, ABN 93 128 411 012) is a registered national charity founded in 2007 by Tony Clark and Lisa Clark in Cleveland, Queensland. It designs, sources, and distributes two core physical products for street-sleeping homeless individuals: the Backpack Bed — a 6-in-1 patented portable shelter combining a 135L backpack, 4-season swag/shelter, insulated mattress, insect mesh and hypothermia blanket, built around proprietary fabrics branded LiteTrex, MatTrex, MeshTrex and ThermalTrex — and the Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack, a lighter-cost polar-fleece sleeping bag plus mylar emergency blanket rated to -4°C. The Backpack Bed carries a $144 unit price and the Sleeping Bag Pack a $35 unit price; the organization explicitly does not accept government funding.
The charity operates a donation-funded model. Revenue is sourced from individual public donations (tax-deductible over $2 in Australia), corporate workplace giving and CSR programs, foundations and trusts, cryptocurrency donations, bequests, and community fundraising campaigns such as GoodNight Australia, GoodNight Tasmania, and GoodNight Kansas City. End beneficiaries do not purchase the products; instead, distribution is channel-only through a partner-agency network of 1,100+ specialist homeless services across Australia (including The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, and Orange Sky) and 40+ agencies in the US through a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) affiliate, Backpack Bed for Homeless Inc., headquartered in Nashville. Payment processing runs through PayPal, Eway and Ezidebit, with no native app or API surface.
Program reach has extended to 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Spain, South Africa). Impact is documented through a third-party 180 Degrees Consulting SROI study (2018) calculating $3,319 in community savings per Backpack Bed, totaling over $146M in social impact and over 4.45M nights of dignified sleep across 40,000+ beds distributed. The organization has accumulated 7+ international design awards including Red Dot Best of the Best (2011, first Australians to win), Australian Human Rights Award for Best Community Organisation (2011), Edison Award (2013), A'Design Silver (2014), Good Design Awards (2025), and iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Gold, with the product held in four museums (Red Dot Museum, Paris arts collection, Powerhouse Museum Sydney, Mood Museum Italy). It is a UN Global Compact signatory aligned with SDGs 3, 12, 16 and 17. Operations are run by a 3-6 person team led by founder/CEO/chairman Tony Clark, supported by a volunteer-style board including Vice Chair Jenny Hamdorf and advisory board member Frank Ganis (former Macquarie Group Executive Director).
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia
- Legal name
- Swags for Homeless Ltd
- Website
- https://backpackbed.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia is a donation-funded national charity that designs and distributes the Backpack Bed — a patented 6-in-1 portable shelter — and a Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack to street-sleeping homeless individuals through 1,100+ partner agencies across Australia and 8 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Emergency Shelter Equipment for the Homeless
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
Keywords
Where Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland, Brisbane
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Public Donations: Individual donations from general public via online portal. Donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia. Supports Backpack Beds at $144/unit and Sleeping Bags at $35/unit.
- Corporate Workplace Giving: Corporate donations, fundraising and Corporate Social Responsibility programs through workplace giving partnerships.
- Foundations and Trusts: DGR item 1 and PBI donations from foundations and trusts.
- Cryptocurrency Donations: Accepts cryptocurrency donations including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin.
- Bequests: Legacy donations through bequests for homeless Australians.
- Fundraising: Online fundraising campaigns and events where supporters raise money. Includes GoodNight Australia, GoodNight Tasmania campaigns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Backpack Bed - $144 per unit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack - $35 per unit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Box of 10 Sleeping Bags - $350 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Backpack Bed for Homeless Australia manufactures and distributes the Backpack Bed — a 6-in-1 portable emergency shelter combining a 135L backpack, 4-season weatherproof shelter, lean-to shelter, insulated mattress, insect mesh and hypothermia blanket — and the Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack. Both products are distributed free of charge through a network of 1,100+ partner homeless agencies to street sleeping individuals in need. The charity is funded entirely by public donations (individual, corporate, foundations, cryptocurrency, bequests) and receives no government funding.
Product overview
Backpack Bed for Homeless Australia operates as a single-product charity organization focused on providing emergency shelter solutions to homeless individuals. The core product portfolio consists of two main offerings: the Backpack Bed (priced at $144) - an award-winning emergency portable shelter and backpack combo that serves as a 4-season bed with fire retardant properties, waterproofing, and mosquito protection; and the Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack (priced at $35) - a lighter emergency solution combining a polar fleece sleeping bag with an emergency foil blanket. Both products are distributed exclusively through their network of 1,100+ partner homeless agencies across Australia. The organization also offers donation products including Homeless Gift Cards and recurring donation options. The Backpack Bed has won multiple international design awards including the Red Dot Design Award (Best of the Best, 2011) and iF Design Award (2026 Gold), and has been acquired by four major museums worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Backpack Bed An emergency portable shelter and backpack in one (135L capacity) that converts from a backpack to a full-body 4-season bed and shelter for street sleeping homeless individuals. Made with LiteTrex fire retardant fabric (waterproof to 15,000+ mmH2O), MatTrex foam with Advanced Silver Insulation, MeshTrex insect protection, and a built-in mylar hypothermia blanket. Meets 47 international standards for quality and safety. Priced at $144 per unit, providing $3,319 in community savings per unit (180 Degrees Consulting 2018). Distributed free of charge to recipients through partner agencies.
- Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack A survival kit for homeless individuals combining a 330gsm ThermalTrex fire retardant polar fleece sleeping bag (rated to -4°C per EN 13537 independent lab test) with an emergency mylar hypothermia blanket. Sleeping bag meets Airline Blanket Standard and USA CPAI-75 Standard, is machine washable, fast drying and UPF 50+. Priced at $35 per unit, providing warmth protection for street sleeping homeless individuals during winter.
- Homeless Gift Cards Gift card donation products that allow donors to provide assistance to homeless individuals through Backpack Bed for Homeless's partner agency network. Gift cards are purchased by donors and converted into Backpack Beds, Sleeping Bags or other assistance delivered to homeless recipients via partner agencies.
- Charitable Donations (One-time, Weekly, Monthly) Tax-deductible donation products (donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia) allowing supporters to give once, weekly or monthly to fund Backpack Beds and Sleeping Bags for homeless Australians. Suggested donation tiers include $20, $50, $100 and custom amounts, processed through Eway, PayPal and Ezidebit payment gateways.
Quantifiable outcome
- 87% of recipients report health improvement
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature6 records
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- The Salvation ArmycoreMajor partner homeless agency distributing Backpack Beds to street sleeping homeless as part of their service delivery. One of over 1,100 partner agencies.
- St Vincent de PaulcoreMajor partner homeless agency distributing Backpack Beds. One of over 1,100 partner agencies across Australia.
- Orange SkycorePartner homeless agency. One of over 1,100 partner agencies distributing Backpack Beds.
- 1,100+ Homeless Agencies (Australia)coreNetwork of 1,100+ specialist homeless services including crisis accommodation, street outreach, primary health, mental health, justice services, emergency relief, food services. Distributed across all Australian states and territories.
- 40+ Homeless Agencies (USA)corePartner homeless agencies across USA distributing Backpack Beds in Nashville and other locations.
- GoodNight Kansas City PartnershipflagshipInitiative by Backpack Bed for Homeless in partnership with Kansas City homeless agencies and corporate supporters. Community-wide call to action to help unsheltered homeless with Backpack Beds during winter.
- Australia PostcoreReply Paid Postcard sponsorship. Postage paid by Australia Post inside every Backpack Bed and Sleeping Bag, allowing homeless recipients to provide feedback on impact.
- UN Global CompactcoreSignatory to UN Global Compact following 10 principles in Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-corruption. Aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals (3, 12, 16, 17).
- 180 Degrees ConsultingcoreWorld's largest consultancy for non-profits and social enterprises. Conducted independent SROI study measuring $3,319 social impact per Backpack Bed.
- RMIT UniversityminorRMIT University study showed 50% of homeless with addiction problems got addiction AFTER being homeless.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Salvation Army Australia: One of Australia's largest homelessness service providers and an active distribution partner for Backpack Beds. Operates crisis accommodation, street outreach and emergency relief programs nationally, overlapping directly with BB4H on target population and service delivery.
- St Vincent de Paul Society Australia: Major Australian homelessness, housing assistance and emergency relief charity, also a 1,100+ distribution partner of BB4H. Comparable operating model: donor-funded, agency-distributed material aid to people experiencing homelessness.
- Orange Sky Australia: Australian non-profit providing free mobile shower and laundry services to people experiencing homelessness, and a BB4H distribution partner. Comparable in scale, target demographic and volunteer-driven service model.
- Mission Australia: Large Australian non-profit delivering homelessness, housing and community services. Comparable donor-funded, agency-distributed operating model targeting rough sleepers and people in crisis accommodation.
- Launch Housing: Specialist homelessness charity operating crisis accommodation, transitional housing and outreach across Victoria. Comparable in focus on rough sleepers and providing material aid alongside case management.
- Sacred Heart Mission: Melbourne-based community organization serving people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. Comparable in providing food, material aid and outreach support to street-sleeping individuals.
- Hutt St Centre: Adelaide-based specialist homelessness service supporting rough sleepers through outreach, material aid and case management. Comparable in target population and donor-funded service model.
Regional players
- Depaul International: International network of charities working with people experiencing homelessness across the UK, Ireland, France, Slovakia and USA. Comparable in providing emergency material aid and shelter solutions to rough sleepers at scale.
- Auckland City Mission (HomeGround): New Zealand's largest social service provider addressing homelessness, food insecurity and poverty. Comparable in delivering integrated material aid and emergency accommodation support to rough sleepers.
Others
- Homeless Link UK: UK membership body for homelessness charities, providing training, resources and policy advocacy. Comparable as a sector infrastructure peer but does not deliver direct material aid like BB4H.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia social profiles
Digital presenceBackpack Bed for Homeless, Australia compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia
What does Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia do?
Backpack Bed for Homeless Australia manufactures and distributes the Backpack Bed — a 6-in-1 portable emergency shelter combining a 135L backpack, 4-season weatherproof shelter, lean-to shelter, insulated mattress, insect mesh and hypothermia blanket — and the Fire Retardant Sleeping Bag Hypothermia Pack. Both products are distributed free of charge through a network of 1,100+ partner homeless agencies to street sleeping individuals in need. The charity is funded entirely by public donations (individual, corporate, foundations, cryptocurrency, bequests) and receives no government funding.
Is Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia a public or private company?
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia founded?
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia was founded in 2007.
Where is Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia based?
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia is headquartered in Cleveland, Brisbane, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Public Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Workplace Giving, foundations and Trusts, cryptocurrency Donations, bequests and fundraising.
Who are Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Salvation Army Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society Australia, Orange Sky Australia, Mission Australia, Launch Housing, Sacred Heart Mission and Hutt St Centre. Regional players are Depaul International and Auckland City Mission (HomeGround). Homeless Link UK is listed as an others.
Does Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia.
What industry is Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia in?
Backpack Bed for Homeless, Australia's product category is Emergency Shelter Equipment for the Homeless. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAC, Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.