Mandurah is set to get a new shower facility on Tuart Avenue, near Mandurah library, by early 2018 to provide a safe space for homeless people in the area to have a warm shower and get changed on a regular basis.
At present, adults experiencing homelessness in the region can only access cold water showers at the eastern foreshore, with the only hot showers available to young homeless people located at Passages.
The $150,000 project hopes to address the existing gap in support services and link facility users with other organisations and service providers.
The shower block is currently under construction and will include two showers, two change spaces and associated infrastructure.
City of Mandurah chief Mark Newman said the City was currently working with community service provider Anglicare to potentially manage the showers as part of a holistic support service.
“What’s most important to us is that the City actively works with agencies and organisations to combat the complex issues associated with homelessness through a range of at-risk initiatives including support, funding, advocacy, affordable housing initiatives and early intervention,” he said.
He said it was the City’s role to take a strategic approach to social issues such as homeless.
However, he said that ultimately more state and federal funding was needed to address the problem.
Laundry services on track
With only a few weeks left until Homeless Awareness Week, Mandurah recently celebrated the decision of homeless laundry organisation, Orange Sky Laundry, to start servicing the Mandurah region.
The Brisbane-born organisation provides free laundry services to homeless people across the country, in an attempt to restore their dignity and improve their standards of living.
The not-for-profit does more than 5.8 tonnes of laundry every week, and invests more than 1,100 hours in having positive conversations with people doing it tough.
The organisation is currently looking for volunteers in Mandurah, Medina, Cooloongup, Kwinana, Port Kennedy, Rockingham, Secret Harbour, Shoalwater and Willagee areas to join the team and make a difference.
For more information send an email to info@orangeskylaundry.com.au or call 07 3062 4811.
Marta Pascual Juanola
Photojournalist from Barcelona, currently based in WA. Five languages speaker: English - Català - Español - Norsk - العربية.
Photojournalist from Barcelona, currently based in WA. Five languages speaker: English - Català - Español - Norsk - العربية.
