Veronika Scott, CEO & Founder of the Empowerment Plan invented the EMPWR coat / sleeping bag / catchall bag. Talk about turning perspective inside out.
The EMPWR coat is a water-resistant and self-heating jacket, which can transform into a sleeping bag, or be worn as an over-the-shoulder bag when not in use. The coat is constructed of upcycled automotive insulation, fabric from Carhartt, and other materials provided by generous donors.
The Empowerment Plan can produce 1,000 coats on a budget of $100,000. Our studies show that for each 1,000 coats distributed, we can save 14 lives and reduce healthcare costs by $58,800 annually. Also, each recipient of an EMPWR Coat will make at least one less emergency room visit per year due to hypothermia. Assuming an average cost of $4,200 per visit, we estimate reduced healthcare costs of $58,800 for every 1,000 coats we distribute. Each year approximately 7% of homeless individuals die from hypothermia. Our coat reduces this statistic by over 20%.
It costs $100 to sponsor a coat, which covers the cost of labor, materials, and overhead expenses. Our goal this year is to produce and distribute 6,500 coats across the United States and Canada.
