Business pragmatism is not usually associated with tackling homelessness.
However, an Australian entrepreneur is applying his business skills in a bid to end rough sleeping.
Simone Rowe, 43, of Melbourne, is, in his own words, a “fix-it guy.”
He wants to create a solution to the problem of homelessness in Australia by creating ‘Sleepbuses’ which will shelter rough sleepers overnight.
“In my work, I fix problems and my style is to simplify things,” Mr Rowe told The Independent.
He is applying the same approach to homelessness.
The Sleepbus won’t feed or clothe people, it will just focus on getting them a good night’s rest.
The project, the trial period of which is scheduled to begin at the end of May, will see buses converted into mobile shelters for the homeless.
Each will house 22 individual ‘sleep pods’ with facilities like lockers and USB chargers, in addition to two toilets on the vehicle.
“Businesses don’t like bricks and mortar homeless shelters,” Mr Rowe said.
