Pressing opportunity City could host mobile laundry for homeless
TOWNSVILLE may become the first regional town outside the southeast corner with a free laundry service for homeless people.
CEO of the not- for- profit Orange Sky Laundry Jo Westh visited Townsville yesterday with a bright orange laundry van called “Debbie” named after the recent cyclone.
The van has spent the past month in Proserpine and Airlie Beach helping locals with more than eight tonnes of laundry. The 18- seater is fitted out with five washing machines, two dryers and a generator.
Ms Westh yesterday met with stakeholders including representatives from accommodation, addiction, welfare and health services to float the idea of expanding the service for homeless people in North Queensland.
She also visited four schools raising awareness and funds for Orange Sky Laundry, including Southern Cross School, Ryan Catholic College, St Anthony’s and St Margaret Mary’s.
“When it costs up to $ 12 per load to wash and dry, you can understand why homeless people cannot afford to make it a priority over basic food and shelter,” Ms Westh said.
“There are over 1000 homeless people in the city — that’s the fourth largest homeless population in the state — so there’s a big need to give access to this type of service to people,” she said.
If Townsville gets its own iconic bright orange van it’s hoped the vehicle would arrive by the end of the year.
More than $ 100,000 will be needed to be raised for the van that would include two commercial washing machines, two dryers, a generator and two water tanks, plus ongoing running costs which equate to $ 6 per wash- anddry load.
The Orange Sky Laundry initiative was launched in 2014 by Brisbane- based founders Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, who were named 2016 Young Australians of the Year.
Centacare governance and risk director Paula La Rosa said clean clothes were essential for wellbeing and dignity.
“Society puts a label on cleanliness and people who do not have access to it get judged all the time,” she said.