They say great to know they can shower, wash their clothes and "have interesting chats".

Put another way, that's nearly the same as the population of Whanganui, a couple of thousand fewer than Upper Hutt and maybe a tad more or less than the populations of Gisborne and Lyttleton combined.

The organisation says in 2021 - 2022 it provided 3,001 loads of laundry, 1,945 hot showers and over 3,893 hours of conversation for those "doing it tough" and who need a listening ear.

Orange Sky say people who are or have experienced homelessness face a myriad of problems which those of us living indoors at home don't need to consider.

Among the practical concerns for example, is how to keep clean when you don't have a shower or a laundry.

Dignity

Howie lived in a van for three years. He said during that time, Orange Sky's service was a godsend.

"Each Saturday morning visiting the orange van was like my big day out! Washing my clothes, having a shower and a chat gave me dignity.

"People weren't judging me for my situation or my skin colour; they just gave me moral support."

After three years, Howie had a settled place to live but returned to visit his Orange Sky friends.

"It's not just the showers, it's the people," he says.

Peter, who's in a similar situation to the one Howie was in, said Orange Sky "takes a lot of pressure off".

"It's great to take some pride in my appearance and have a chat with some volunteers - it makes you feel human again."

Source

• MaiFM

With 41,600 Kiwis not knowing where they will sleep tonight, and many not having access to a shower or laundry services demand for Orange Sky services has doubled.

And, it needs more volunteers.

Orange Sky, offers a mobile laundry and hot shower service working on the streets and in particular it asking Wellingtonians to volunteer some of their time.

Eddie Uini​, who leads New Zealand's branch of Orange Sky, says unlike Auckland, which is inundated with volunteers, the opposite is true of Wellington.

Finding volunteers in the capital is one of the charity's challenges.

"We'd welcome people with open arms," says Orange Sky's Wellington team leader Debs Burson. "Every day when the van is not used is a sad day."

"The day when our vans aren't needed, I'll celebrate more than anyone but there is a need in both Auckland and Wellington."

Unemployment has risen to 151,000 last September - 37,000 more than in the previous quarter. That was the biggest quarterly increase since 1986.

Food parcels are needed now more than ever.

Since the pandemic, there has also been an increase in single-income families using the charity to help reduce living costs, says Uini.

Orange Sky's distinctive orange-painted mobile laundry van is a self-contained unit. It has two washing machines, two dryers and a shower. It also has its own power, water and waste systems.

The charity's services are free of charge and open for anyone in need.

Orange Sky helps people experiencing homelessness or those who for various reasons don't have or can't afford hot water or a washing machine.

Burson​ can't speak highly enough of her involvement with the mobile laundry service.

It's a family affair, she says. Her husband is the vehicle co-ordinator and her 12-year-old daughter is the youngest person on the Wellington team.

"We've been part of Orange Sky since its launch - it's amazing, we love it."

"A lot of people who come to my shift are families and there's always kids running around. It's an incredible community. We really feel part of it."

Another volunteer comments: "You build trust and build friendships because everyone is consistently there every Friday. You're there for the highs and lows, and to celebrate the successes."

Wellington service leader Cathy Knowsley​ said the demand for its service had been consistent.

There were about 25 volunteers and the van did about 30 to 40 loads of washing a week.

"We currently have six shifts, and we'd love to have more, and reach more of the region," Knowsley said.

In the capital, the van visits the Compassion Soup Kitchen in Te Aro, Wellington City Mission in Newtown, Raukawa Community Centre in Strathmore Park and Linden Community Centre in Tawa.

Source

• Stuff
• Image: Stuff

Volunteer centres throughout the country report a 10 to 25 per cent increases in volunteers, says Leisa de Klerk, who manages Dunedin and Waitaki for Volunteer South, a charitable trust that connects volunteers with volunteering opportunities.

The volunteers' profile is changing too, she says.

While volunteering is often perceived as the realm of retired people, last year, women aged between 30 and 59 in full-time employment, were the most likely age group to volunteer.

An expression of the increasing interest in volunteering is the 100+ volunteers, who each week, give their time to help positively connect with some of the 41,000 New Zealanders doing it tough reports Orange Sky.

"It (Orange Sky) is a service that many people may not realise is necessary", says Eddie Uini is the organisation's manager and sole employee.

Orange Sky vans provide a mobile free laundry and shower service. The people they target are experiencing homelessness or living in cars and overcrowded housing.

"Most of us assume we'll put on a set of clean clothes every day. But when a person is homeless, access to bathing and laundry facilities is usually difficult", Uini says.

For many homeless people, their clothes can be their most precious possessions and sometimes they have only one set.

Uini says it is a joy to be able to provide support in such as practical and encouraging way.

"When we started out, some clients said it was their first shower in months", he said.

Volunteers connect with clients through genuine and non-judgemental conversation.

While the person is doing their laundry, the volunteers with them and chat - it's a simple opportunity for everyday people to connect in a safe, positive and supportive environment, Uini says.

The increasing level of volunteer involvement is a source of encouragement for Uini.

"The long-term dream is to have an Orange Sky van visiting every town that needs it", he says.

Uini says Orange Sky is a fledgeling outreach and while expanding through the kind generosity of financial donors and volunteers, the organisation is taking the expansion one step at a time.

Source

• Daily Encourager
• Daily Encourager
• Image: Orange Sky

RNZ reports that Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo claims the report is the most detailed research ever done on the working poor in this country.

She said that as a country it is dangerous when we develop a tolerance for poverty.

"The thing I worry about ... is that we look at the numbers and we think 'ah, poverty is not a new thing', and I think it becomes dangerous when we develop a tolerance for poverty.

"We have these human rights conventions that we've signed up to as a country. We have sustainable development goals which talk about ending poverty and decent work for all - but it's just not the reality for many of our families."

The study shows that on average 12 percent of single-parent families fall below the in-work poverty threshold compared with the national average of 7 percent.

Sumeo says it would be very helpful for policymakers to try and lift families out of poverty.

Max Rashbrooke, senior associate at Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, notes that with companies paying 10% less of their profits than they did decades ago the mismatch between growth in the overall economy and wage rises have left workers on average $11,500 worse off per year.

Free laundry and shower service

The report comes as Orange Sky is looking for volunteers to help grow its free laundry and shower service across New Zealand.

The not-for-profit organisation provides a free mobile laundry and shower service in a non-judgemental environment for some of the 41,000 people experiencing homelessness in New Zealand.

Orange Sky runs custom fitted vans with two washing machines, two dryers and a shower to provide a free laundry and shower service to those currently experiencing homelessness.

It is looking for people who can drive or offer companionship, social support, staff a helpline, educate and train, fundraise or have expertise in safety and emergency.

Orange Sky's focus is on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are too often ignored or feel disconnected from the community and current statistics show Orange Sky has offered more than 2,766 hours of conversation, 22,54 washes, 2174 showers. It currently enjoys 65 volunteers.

The call for volunteers comes as new research shows more than 50,000 'working households' are living in poverty in New Zealand.

Sources

• RNZ
• Orange Sky
• Seek
• NZ Assn Social Workers

"The homelessness situation (in New Zealand) is a little different to what is happening overseas.

"It's people living in overcrowded houses, cars and garages - not so much people out on the streets (though) there's plenty of that, too", says event organiser Phil Sprey (pictured left) of DestinationHutt.

Sprey is hopeful for 20,000 to turn out joining the local fight against homelessness and raise money for what he describes as an increasing yet largely unseen section of New Zealand society.

Sprey says that by choosing to sleep under the stars, people will help those who have no other choice.

He says he hopes to give the event an international flavour.

An experienced event organiser, Sprey says he and the DestinationHutt charity team are talking with several national and international musical acts.

For juniors, the event begins at 6 pm with a family Christmas concert, "Santa at Sunset" and includes a variety show with multiple stages.

Then as the sun goes down the "sleep out" part of the event will take over.

Joining the official sleep out period is for those over 18 and the minimum donation is $30.

The New Zealand beneficiary of the event is Orange Sky.

Orange Sky is a charity providing mobile laundry and shower services to people living on the streets.

The goal of Big Sleep Out New Zealand is to put more equipment, vehicles and people onto the streets.

The Petone event is part of a global initiative in cities and towns including London, New York, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Chicago, Cardiff, Los Angeles, New Delhi, Madrid, Brisbane, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Philadelphia and Singapore.

Will Smith, Dame Helen Mirren and Cold Play's Chris Martin have joined the international cause.

Locally, story teller, Sir Richard Taylor, Orchestra Wellington, US Ambassador Scott Brown and One Bar Heater are confirmed to be supporting the cause.

Sources

• DomPost
• DestinationHutt
• World's Big Sleep Out NZ
• Image: World's Big Sleep Out