Homeless man, Tony Tarasenko, uses his "Street Swags" swag, in his usual spot in the Bisbane Botanical Gardens. Picture by Giulio Saggin

In 2005 Mrs. Jean Madden, one of our teachers at Stuartholme, Brisbane, (who is also a former student and mother of a small boy) saw a documentary on homelessness which showed the adverse effects that sleeping on cement had on the physical and mental health of the homeless. The film inspired her with the idea of creating bedding in the form of a “swag” that would at least give some protection for those reduced to sleeping in the streets.

After speaking with local charities, government bodies and people sleeping rough, she worked to design a swag that was practical, portable, easy to roll up, waterproof and cheap. Jean also thought that it was important to create a swag that did not look like bedding when it was being carried in order to preserve the dignity of its users and to make it less likely to be stolen. Jean trialled early prototypes of the Street Swag on the streets around Brisbane before going into production with the current model.

Jean’s efforts to produce “Street Swags” quickly gained support from many quarters. Her friends and students helped with initial fundraising for materials which she and her mother made into the swags. A lawyer offered his assistance, and before long Jean Madden found herself the Managing Director of “Street Swags Limited”, a not-for-profit charity which was registered in September 2007.  

Jean said, "The Street Swag has proven so successful because it is practical, warm, comfortable and discreet. We are quickly being recognized as an important base step in breaking the cycle of homelessness, slowing the detrimental health risks caused by sleeping rough.”

While Jean sees this work as a way of living out her commitment to the Sacred Heart Goal of 'Social awareness that impels to action', she has received recognition for her work with the homeless from a number of quarters. Jean was recognized as a Zonta woman of achievement and was a finalist in the 2008 Australian of the Year Awards. She was also honoured to receive the Supreme Master's Shining World Compassion award from Buddhist leader Ching Hai, the first in Australia to do so.

Jean and the Directors of “Street Swags Limited” hope to be able to extend the scope of their work for the homeless and to distribute Street Swags in other cities.

While Jean has negotiated for all the swags to be made by prisoners at the Woodford Correctional Centre, Street Swags relies on donations from the public for the materials to keep producing and distributing swags to the homeless. They are about to step up production to 300 per month to try to meet demand.

Rita Carroll rscj
province of Australia – New Zealand

To find out more visit www.streetswags.org