Take One, Leave One co-founder and ANU law student Lauren Dreyar said she's set up coat racks across Canberra where rough sleepers and people in need can pick up a warm jacket.

Ms Dreyar founded her charity with Jenna Allen, Bhavani Kannan, Dylan O'Beirne in 2017 and saw it as an alternative to collecting donations and approaching homeless people to offer them clothing.

"That didn't seem at all like an ethical thing or an appropriate thing to do," Ms Dreyar said.

"We're trying to do it with a bit of dignity so people are able to select items they actually like."

Ms Dreyar said the initiative gave them an opportunity to engage with people but also take orders more appropriate for people's needs.

"It comes down to dignity and agency," she said.

"It's providing a bit of a shopping experience too that they're blocked from."

The group have teamed up with charity GIVIT, a not-for-profit working to defer items from landfill and directly address community needs.

GIVIT ACT manager Caroline Odgers said the coats were available to rough sleepers or even newly arrived families from overseas unprepared for Canberra's "bloody freezing" winters.

"We're setting a huge target this year," Ms Odgers said.

"They can go up to these coat stands and just grab a coat. They don't have to go to a charity or go to an op shop, it's totally free."

Two permanent racks have been set  up at the Civic and Woden libraries, with roving racks at select times at the Early Morning Centre, Red Cross Roadhouse and Safe Shelter at St Columba's.

Ms Dreyar said people can donate coats a the ANU College of Law, the Food Co-Op and Shop or the Belconnen Community Centre.

"We are also in need of storage spaces too so we can properly store all of the wonderful donations we receive - right now I am storing everything at home," Ms Dreyar said.

Ms Dreyar also welcomed their partnership with GIVIT which now allowed them to receive corporate donations.

For people in need of a winter coat who cannot afford one, Take One, Leave One is at: