In the Czech town of Prachatice, some of the unhoused population is finding warmth in igloos—but not the kind made of snow. Instead, these innovative emergency shelters, called Iglous, are constructed from nonflammable thermal materials that trap body heat, providing life-saving warmth in freezing conditions.
While traditional homeless shelters exist, not everyone can or will use them due to overcrowding, personal reasons, or strict shelter rules. That’s where Iglous come in—offering a portable, insulated, and safer alternative for those sleeping rough in cold temperatures.
Developed by the nonprofit Iglou, these shelters are distributed to cities and charities, helping outreach workers provide protection for the most vulnerable. Last year, the nonprofit Prevent partnered with Prachatice to purchase two Iglous, working with social workers to distribute them under specific conditions.
Prachatice lacks central homeless shelters and, most critically, has no overnight shelters for men. For individuals who have nowhere else to go, an Iglou can mean the difference between life and death during harsh winters.
“At Iglou, we all believe that everyone who wants should have a real home,” the organization wrote on Facebook. “But we also know the reality—thousands are still sleeping rough during freezing nights, and some freeze to death. The Iglou is for them, to prevent that.”
The success of Iglous in the Czech Republic raises an important question: Could other cities implement similar emergency shelters? With homelessness on the rise in many parts of the world, practical and immediate solutions like this could make a significant difference.
For more on Iglous and the people they help, check out Iglou’s official site or follow them on social media.
