Warm showers, clean clothes and a chance to chat are the three priorities of a new homeless support service launched south of Perth last week.
On January 19 charity Orange Sky Laundry launched its southern Perth free-to-use homeless support van, which carries two washing machines, dryers and showers.
Organisers say one of the vans will visit Armadale regularly.
The charity was founded in Brisbane in 2014 and three years later has a national army of 1500 volunteers who each week help wash and dry more than seven tonnes of laundry, and provide 200 showers for people living rough.
However, the one-hour service also provides what its founders believe is more important than washing: a chance to chat.
Orange Sky co-founder Nicholas Marchesi said he had not recognised the value in talking with people who used the service until after the vans began hitting the streets three years ago, and chatting soon became their priority.
The first user of the southern Perth van was a man named Peter.
Peter had been living rough for some time and had not showered in nearly three weeks when he attended the vehicle launch south of Perth.
“He had a warm shower and an opportunity to feel part of a community,” Mr Marchesi said.
Before last week Peter had been having his laundry washed through a different service operated by Orange Sky, but Mr Marchesi believed the opportunity to wash and sit down and chat with volunteers was an even greater help.
“He speaks to himself, doesn’t communicate to others and him coming down and feeling clean, fresh and more importantly connected, I think, had a massive impact on his life,” he said.
“I know our volunteers really look forward to hanging out with him and I know it was special for them to be able to further improve his life.”
Information on where and when the van can be found in Armadale will be updated on the website orangeskylaundry.com.au.
