
The Empowerment Plan
Model & Strategy
The Empowerment Plan tackles the punishing cycle of homelessness and poverty through a unique system of employment, education and empowerment. The Empowerment Plan employs single parents from local homeless shelters and trains them to become full-time seamstresses. Their current team manufacture coats that transform into sleeping bags, which are then distributed across the nation to homeless individuals who are living on the streets. In addition to employment, the organization offers educational and professional workshops in an effort to equip each team member with the confidence and skills necessary to lead a more sustainable, financially stable and healthy life. The Empowerment Plan believes in giving second chances to those who want it, while providing warmth to those who need it.



Veronika’s vision for The Empowerment Plan started when she was a 20-year-old product design student at The College for Creative Studies in Detroit and was given a class assignment to design a product to fill an actual need. Upon her December 2011 graduation and after spending countless hours at local shelters, she had created an organization that began around a single idea: to design a self-heated, waterproof coat that transforms into a sleeping bag specifically for the homeless. Her idea has now transformed into a system of empowerment in which homeless women are paid to learn how to produce coats for people living on the streets, giving them an opportunity to earn money, find a place to live, and gain back their independence for themselves and their family.
Veronika is the youngest recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award from the JFK Library Foundation and Harvard University. She has received an IDEA Gold Award from the Industrial Design Society of America and has an honorary PhD of Humane Letters from Johnson State College. Veronika has been named one of CNN’s Ten Visionary Women in the World, the winner of the 2014 DVF People’s Voice Award, listed as one of Forbes “30 Under 30”, as well as the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s “40 Under 40”. The Empowerment Plan story has been told across the world and shared at events such as the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit with Oprah, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett.
IMPACT
The Empowerment Plan employs previously homeless parents, with a focus on low-income, minority single mothers. Earning livable wages enables employees to find permanent housing and establish a stable life for their children within the first three months of employment. Programs such as GED tutoring, domestic violence support groups, and Financial Health and Wellness seminars are also offered to ensure the personal and professional success of all program participants.
The Empowerment Plan manufactures coats that convert to sleeping bags, which are distributed directly to people living on the streets. Close to 40,000 sleeping bag coats have been distributed globally to homeless individuals, across all 50 U.S. states, 11 Canadian provinces and territories, and 18 other countries. Distribution occurs with the help of generous community advocates and partner outreach organizations.
Approximately 60% of the paid workweek is spent on coat production and the remaining 40% of paid time is dedicated to supportive services, time with case management, and other educational programming.
The Empowerment Plan News
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Veronika Scott of The Empowerment Plan Featured on CNN HeroesVeronika Scott was recently featured as one of CNN’s Heroes for the work her organization, The Empowerment Plan, does to hire homeless individuals from local…Mar 2016
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The Empowerment Plan Recognized as a Chevy Detroit ChampionBased out of Detroit, The Empowerment Plan has gained international recognition for their dedication to helping the homeless community. Using materials donated to them by…Mar 2016
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Forbes 30 Under 30 Social EntrepreneursForbes recently released their “30 Under 30” for 2015 in Social Entrepreneurship and three DRK grantees were included in the list of social entrepreneurs. Kiah…Jan 2016
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Veronika Scott Featured in Michael Bolton's Documentary about Detroit: Gotta Keep Dreamin'Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter Michael Bolton was first drawn to Detroit to explore Hitsville USA, the roots of his greatest musical influences, but what…Jan 2016
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RT @PineStreetInn: Today we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As part of our reflections on Martin Luth…
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RT @amie_zamudio: Thank you Brian L. Trotier. Kathy says “Hello”. We thank @LuckyDuckFound for the @empowermentplan coat sleeping bags whil…
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RT @LuckyDuckFound: Help us continue to provide immediate protection & warmth to unsheltered San Diegans with @empowermentplan sleeping bag…
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RT @amie_zamudio: At 6pm last night I gave a very fragile senior woman age 72 experiencing homelessness discharged from a hospital an @empo…
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RT @freep: Mitch Albom/SAY Detroit Radiothon raises $1.866 million for Detroiters in need https://t.co/VdUCjBfPBZ
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RT @LuckyDuckFound: Since 2012, @empowermentplan has distributed 65K sleeping bag coats in all 50 states and 21 countries. Tomorrow is #Giv…
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RT @amie_zamudio: Found another “space blanket” in a shopping cart. These do very little to keep People experiencing #homelessness warm. We…
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Today is Election Day! We're so proud of our team for using their voice and voting! #EMPWRdetroit #EMPWRcommunities
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RT @HeyYallDetroit: Hey Y'all we have just put out clothes, menstrual hygiene products, toothpaste, and light bulbs at the Detroit Communit…
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RT @amie_zamudio: @HomelessnessSD @sullivanms @Housing4Hmless I just moved my street butterfly into housing who was at that location. When…
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Each quarter, Detroit Dye House donates hundreds of pairs of beautiful, colorful socks to help our neighbors in nee… https://t.co/siBTw1Rw2t
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Happy Halloween from the EP team! Wishing you all a fun and not-too-scary holiday! 🎃👻
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RT @HeyYallDetroit: Hey Y'all Good Morning! We just stocked the pantry on 1812 field street with food and resources. The bottom box has sna…
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RT @LuckyDuckFound: For #WorldHomelessDay we partnered with 10 cities and @empowermentplan for "Project 10" to distribute 1,000 winter coat…
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Project 10 - San Diego! Our #EMPWRproject10 activation in California on #worldhomelessday was spearheaded by our Ch… https://t.co/5XPNtMZ7J8
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RT @amie_zamudio: @LuckyDuckFound @Padres @itsFatherJoe44 Thank you @LuckyDuckFound for supporting us at @Housing4Hmless. We look forward t…
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RT @Patriots: “Instead of getting a handout, they’ve given us a hand up to stand up.” To raise awareness on World Homeless Day, the @PatsF…
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Project 10 - Detroit! We’re so grateful to the @DetroitPistons for sponsoring and helping us hand out 100 EMPWR Coa… https://t.co/TAGB3wJPYq