A free laundry service for homeless people is reporting a surge in demand from people on one or more incomes.
The Australian charity Orange Sky - a free laundry and shower truck service. Photo: Orange Sky/Supplied
The Australian charity Orange Sky - a free laundry and shower truck service - has been operating in Auckland and Wellington since 2018.
It now has 160 volunteers on its books.
Its New Zealand manager Eddy Uini said in the past the service has catered for predominately rough sleepers.
But since the start of Covid-19, those demographics are changing and now more and more families are seeking out the service, particularly in South and West Auckland, he said.
"About 70 percent of our shifts out south and west are supporting people that may have a roof over their heads but have quite a few kids," Uini said.
"When you have to choose between buying more food or paying for a laundromat, if you can save $10 or $20 and put that towards putting more food on the table, that can make a huge difference."
Saving money on a laundry and water could make a big difference for a family that was struggling financially.
Many of the clients seeking the service are also lonely, and the service can provide a place for conversation and community, Uini said.
The overall need has doubled in the last year and the organisation is looking to expand its volunteer-run operation as a result.
The charity said it provided more than 3300 washes, over 1800 showers and around 5600 hours of conversation in the last year.