By Aneeka Simonis
A PORTABLE shower service that has touched the lives of some 2500 homeless people in the outer south-east has announced plans to expand its services.
But it needs the community’s help.
Clean as Casper, a mobile shower service circulating the Pakenham, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Frankston, Chelsea and Carrum area, is a finalist in a major competition focused on making the world a better place.
The winner will take out $35,000.
Clean as Casper Founder Steve Winterton, from Kooweerup, said he’d put the money towards buying a new van which would be modified to provide homeless clients two additional showers.
At the moment, the expanding service relies on a single mobile shower – but funding has dried up and Mr Winterton and a volunteer have found themselves paying the fuel bills, and relying on donations to buy toiletries.
Mr Winterton, who named the shower after a homeless friend who hadn’t taken a shower in seven years, also brought the Orange Sky Laundry service to the area over a year ago.
It has flourished and has since been taken over by a dedicated team of volunteers who accompany the shower service in a number of the south-east locations to ensure homeless people have clean clothes to get into after their warm shower.
The service also now offers free haircuts – and recently purchased a massage chair.
But Mr Winterton found it’s not the shower and haircuts which keep homeless people coming back.
It’s the team’s offering of friendship and support which has changed lives.
“When people think of homelessness, they think of someone without a house. It’s much deeper than that,” he said.
“When you and I are going through a hard time and we were growing up, we could come home and talk to mum and dad about it over some dinner at the table.
“These people don’t have this opportunity. They have no-one to turn to and have a chat.
“To give people the opportunity to develop friendships and have a “home” in terms of a place to go to and chat, for a couple of hours a week is the best thing. It excites me and drives our team.”
Clean as Casper kicked off in May, and has made significant ground in helping boost the self-esteem, comfort and dignity of those on the street, but to destigmatise homelessness as a whole.
It is powered by the motto: “Sit down, don’t look down.”
If you’d like to see Clean as Casper expand their service, vote for them in the Sunsuper competition.
Voters must confirm their email address to validate their vote.
If you’d like to volunteer for Clean as Casper or donate, contact Steve at cleansascasper@gmail.com.
Clean as Casper’s location roster starting February 2017.
Mondays: Narre Warren
Tuesday: Pakenham
Wednesday: Chelsea, Carrum, Cranbourne
Thursday: Frankston
Friday: CBD
