Homeless Flag
The Homeless Flag (Swedish: Hemlösas Internationella Flagga), also called the Homeless International Flag, is a pictogram-style flag intended to represent homelessness, poverty, unity and solidarity.[1] Designed in Sweden, the emblem shows two figures divided by the numeral “1”: one figure sits outside in the rain while the other, under a roof and lamp, extends a helping hand. The symbol is used during awareness events such as Homeless Day (20 January) and appears in media, merchandise and social campaigns on homelessness.
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]The idea of a universal flag for homeless people was conceived by entrepreneur and activist Kavian Ferdowsi in 2008 while he was himself living without permanent housing in Stockholm.[2] After founding the non-profit organisation Hemlösa.se in 2010, Ferdowsi refined the design and publicly presented the first version of the flag in 2014.[1]
Standardisation and trademark
[edit]A colour-enhanced version reached its current graphic form in early 2015.[1] The symbol was registered that year with the Swedish Patent and Registration Office and later at the European Union Intellectual Property Office to protect its use.[3][4]
Symbolism
[edit]The flag consists of four key elements:
- the numeral “1” forming a thin wall between two individuals, symbolising the fragile divide between having a home and homelessness as well as the notion that humanity is one;[1]
- two silhouettes – one seated in rain, the other standing under a roof – depicting a person without shelter and a person with housing;
- a roof and hanging lamp over the standing figure, representing light, safety and hope;
- the out-stretched hands of the two figures, meeting across the divide to illustrate compassion, forgiveness and solidarity.[1]
Recognition and use
[edit]
Public events
[edit]The Homeless Flag is the official emblem of Homeless Day (Hemlösas Dag), observed annually on 20 January in cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Oslo, Berlin, London and Tehran.[5] Volunteers display the flag while offering food, clothing and roses to rough sleepers, aiming to draw attention to an estimated 33 000 homeless people in Sweden and millions worldwide.[6]
Government acknowledgment
[edit]On 11 September 2019 Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality, Åsa Lindhagen, publicly acknowledged the Homeless Flag during a meeting with Ferdowsi and Hemlösa.se representatives, calling the symbol “an important reminder of society’s duty toward those without homes.”[7]
Media and merchandise
[edit]The flag is frequently featured in Hemlösas Tidning (Homeless Newspaper), a street paper first issued in 2023; front-page stories in issues #1 (2023) and #6 (2024) describe it as “a symbol of solidarity and unity.”[8][9]
In 2018 the social enterprise Made by Homeless released a limited-edition wristwatch engraved with the Homeless Flag, using profits to fund transitional housing projects.[10]
Kavian Prize
[edit]The Homeless Flag motif is also incorporated into the composite logo of the annual Kavian Prize – an award founded by Ferdowsi in 2019 to honour outstanding social-justice work. The flag symbol appears at the top of every page on the prize’s official website.[11]
The same site features photographs of award ceremonies with Sweden’s Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed, MP Yusuf Aydin and Stockholm City Councillor Clara Lindblom, linking the prize – and thus the flag motif – to high-profile public events.[12]
Media coverage
[edit]In November 2020 the Homeless Flag was featured on the national talk-show Malou efter tio (TV4). During the interview, host Malou von Sivers showed footage of Ferdowsi pushing his trolley marked with the flag, while Ferdowsi explained that he displays the symbol every morning when handing out breakfast to homeless people in central Stockholm.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Hemlösas Internationella Flagga". Hemlösa.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Kavian levde som hemlös – nu ska hans idé hjälpa andra". Mitt i Stockholm (in Swedish). 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "European Union Trademark 2015-0189". EUIPO TMview. EUIPO. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "European Union Trademark 2017-02907". EUIPO TMview. EUIPO. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Homeless Day information portal". HomelessDay.info. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Hemlösas Tidning #4 December 2023" (PDF) (in Swedish). Hemlösas Tidning. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Åsa Lindhagen acknowledges the Homeless Flag". Instagram. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Hemlösas Tidning #1 July 2023" (PDF) (in Swedish). Hemlösas Tidning. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Hemlösas Tidning #6 April 2024" (PDF) (in Swedish). Hemlösas Tidning. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Made by Homeless – archived February 2019". Internet Archive. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Official Kavian Prize logo (PNG)". KavianPrize.com. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Kavian Prize – Official website". Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Ferdowsi, Kavian; von Sivers, Malou (23 Nov 2020). Kavian äger inget – ger allt till hemlösa (Television broadcast) (in Swedish). TV4. Event occurs at 06:50. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
