NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisation One Voice will host a fundraising event to raise money for a homeless support van based in the Redlands.
Event co-ordinator Julie Hoskins said One Voice operated six vans across Australia which provided support and hygiene services such as showers and haircuts to homeless people.
Money raised by the fundraising event would be put towards establishing a van to permanently service the Redlands and Gold Coast, with regularly scheduled days in locations around the two cities.
Ms Hoskins said there were about 300 registered homeless people in the Redlands, but their problems often remained unheard.
“Often people will camp in a location every night but be gone by morning,” she said.
“There are good food support services for homeless people in the Redlands, but often there’s nowhere for them to shower.”
Ms Hoskins said the bus that serviced Brisbane and Redcliffe would occasionally visit the Redlands, but the local homeless population needed more regular support.
“The Brisbane and Redcliffe bus has visited the Redlands but is stretched very thin at the moment,” she said.
“To move forward, (homeless people) need more regular showers.
“One thing that came up often when I talked to people on the streets is where they could go to clean up and present themselves for job interviews.”
Ms Hoskins said the organisation aimed to have the van up and running before the end of 2019.
“The bus will be fitted with two private shower cubicles, onboard water tanks for both supply and waste, onboard gas-fuelled hot water heaters and an onboard generator,” she said.
“One Voice mobile showers services offer people a safe place to shower, shave, brush teeth and most of all, helps restore some dignity in their lives.”
A One Voice van temporarily stationed in Cleveland on Christmas Day received a positive response, Ms Hoskins said.
People she had spoken to said regular showers helped them gain the confidence to go for job interviews and fit in in society, Ms Hoskins added.
“There’s definitely a need for a One Voice van in the Redlands,” she said.
“It’s not such a need that we should have a van stationed there every day (but) the people need a regular roster.”
The One Voice fundraiser will be held at the Grand View Hotel on February 2. Tickets include canapes and first hour drinks, as well as a two course meal and live entertainment.
To purchase tickets to the One Voice Redlands event go online to trybooking.com/zook.
