Liam McNally
Melton council is looking into supporting the rising number of people experiencing homelessness in the municipality with the provision of a mobile shower-bus.
At a recent council meeting Melton mayor Lara Carli moved for council to investigate options to engage or attract a shower bus provider for people experiencing homelessness in the community
“It’s heart-breaking to see people sleeping in tents at our local parks and sleeping just around the corner in the amphitheatre… hopefully [a shower bus] is something we can have here in the city of Melton. I know that other municipalities do it and it’s a huge success,” she said.
The motion followed a Council to Homeless Persons report in May that showed homelessness increased by 134 per cent in Melton between 2016 and 2021.
Donna Bennet, chief executive of leading Melton youth homelessness service Hope Street, agreed that a shower bus would be an amazing addition to the community, as it’s hard for people sleeping rough to currently get a free shower.
“One person said when he was sleeping in his car, very quickly his mental health dropped and hygiene dropped. He didn’t want people to see him that way, because he couldn’t wash and wasn’t feeling good about himself,” she said.
“…so having a bus to go to where they are with no one else around is a great idea, and more dignified.”
Shower buses are already in operation in other areas of Melbourne, One Voice is a provider that began in Melbourne’s CBD in 2014 and has since expanded to several locations.
Along with a place to wash, One Voice provides clean clothes and information on nearby homelessness services.
Councillor Steve Abboushi said a shower bus for Melton would be a fantastic initiative.
“I’ve seen this in operation in the city and it’s very, very popular,” he said.
“It’s also a safe place, it’s structured, the participants use it, it’s monitored, it’s secure, and it’s a place where they know that they can rely on the service and the service is always there.”
