Beds boost nonprofits’ ability to help homeless sleep easier

As the homeless population in the valley increases, so do the needs of area shelters and nonprofit groups seeking resources for housing individuals. California-based nonprofit group WorldBed recognized this need and launched Project Beds for America, recently donating 200 mattresses to The Salvation Army of Southern Nevada's Lied Social Services Campus, 31 W. Owens Ave.

The donation was part of WorldBed's efforts to provide 2,000 beds to area nonprofit groups, including Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission and The Shade Tree.

The Salvation Army received its first 200 of 400 beds July 30, replacing decades-old mattresses in its shelters. WorldBed has provided mattresses to victims of disasters such as last year's tornado in Joplin, Mo., and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

David Robeck, Salvation Army executive director, said WorldBed's contribution is an upgrade from what The Salvation Army provided to those in need.

"What we had is a lot of what you'd find in little kids' bedrooms," Robeck said. "The truth is we really needed bunk-sized beds that address people's needs."

Robeck said many of the shelter's homeless individuals have medical and mental health issues that factor into maintaining the cleanliness of the beds. Having mattresses that reduce some of these problems contributed to the bed's design.

"We have problems with bed-wetting and bed bugs," Robeck said. "The fact that these beds can be cleaned easily, and these are long-term kind of mattresses, make them (ideal)."

Laura Castro, WorldBed executive director, said the mattresses donated to The Salvation Army were designed specifically for the project, taking the shelter's needs into account.

"I didn't want to give something to Salvation Army and have them be in the same situation they were in before," Castro said. "I wanted to give them a long-term solution and design a bed that meets those needs."

Castro said WorldBed plans to deliver the remaining 200 beds to The Salvation Army and the 1,600 beds to the other organizations within the next several weeks. Project Beds for America, she said, showcases the joint effort among these nonprofits.

"Everyone has a place in the nonprofit world, but they come together for things like this," Castro said. "It wouldn't have been possible to figure out how to get these beds into the community and into safe hands without working together. The collaboration with these organizations makes perfect sense."

According to Robeck, the cost to replace the beds without WorldBed's donation averages $150 per mattress, a "substantial amount of our budget," he said. Castro, who chose Las Vegas as the city to launch Project Beds for America, said she feels fortunate to help a community with a rising homeless population and an organization with limited resources.

"I feel grateful we have the opportunity to do something like this," Castro said. "A lot of people are struggling right now. I feel that there is a very special community in Las Vegas, and we wanted to give back to it."

For more information on WorldBed, call 951 -801-8424 or visit worldbed.org. For more information on The Salvation Army, call 870-4430 or visit usw.salvationarmy.org.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.