A free mobile unit offering shower and laundry facilities to those living rough in Tauranga will begin operating next week.

Good Neighbour has launched a new mobile shower and laundry facility to bring essential hygiene services directly to people experiencing homelessness and hardship across the city and the Western Bay of Plenty, said general manager Renee Hanna.

She said the services would “restore dignity, improve health outcomes and remove key barriers to daily participation for some of the region’s most vulnerable people”.

Funded through TECT, Bay Trust and Tauranga City Council, the mobile unit will provide free access to hot showers and laundry facilities.

The trailer cost was $58,121 to build with a califont being donated by Rinnai, Hanna said. “With the average cost of a wash and dry cycle at laundromat being $10, let alone cost of the showers – we expect this trailer to give $52,000 worth of service annually to the community."

Hanna said Good Neighbour was asked by the council to lead the mobile laundry and shower service initiative because of its strong relationships across the community and proven ability to deliver collaborative, people-centred solutions.

Uniquely positioned

“With established partnerships spanning council, the Department of Corrections, kai [food] providers, health services and community organisations, Good Neighbour is uniquely positioned to co-ordinate and operate the service effectively,” Hanna said.

The mobile unit will be positioned weekly at community meal locations across the city, where hundreds of people already gather for kai. The service is already booked for next week.

Hanna said aligning hygiene services with existing food programmes meant individuals can access a meal, a shower and clean clothes in one safe, welcoming environment, thereby supporting wellbeing, connection and mana.

“This service is about dignity,” Hanna said. “A shower and clean clothes might seem simple but they can be the difference between isolation and connection, between surviving and participating.

Removing barriers

“By taking the service to where people already are, we’re removing barriers and meeting real needs with care and respect.”

The initiative also enables wraparound support. Through partnerships such as with Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation, BeingWell health coaches can connect with people while laundry cycles are running, offering health advice and wellbeing support in a relational setting.

Hanna believed the need is significant. According to the Department of Corrections, about 400 people are known to be living rough in Tauranga, with many more households lacking access to reliable laundry facilities.

The mobile unit can be deployed flexibly across the region and made available to Civil Defence services in the event of an emergency, Hanna said.

“It also represents a key outcome of previous Kāinga Tupu community hub discussions, delivering about 30% of the original hub’s intended impact in a practical, immediate way.”

Wider mission

Hann said the launch also reflected Good Neighbour’s wider mission of bringing people together to transform our community.

Last year, the organisation rescued 662 tonnes of food, cooked more than 14,000 meals, completed 165 backyard projects, supported youth mentoring programmes and mobilised more than 26,000 volunteer hours – all powered by community generosity and collaboration.

And there’s more on the horizon, Hanna said.

“As Good Neighbour continues to grow, the organisation is stepping into a new chapter with a refreshed brand and visual identity. The community is invited to keep an eye out for Good Neighbour’s new look as it rolls out in coming months.”

To follow the journey, see the mobile unit in action and stay up to date with launch locations, follow Good Neighbour on social media or visit: www.goodneighbour.co.nz