A fresh start: Orange Sky launches in Greater Shepparton

But more than being a mobile laundry service, the real focus of Orange Sky’s mission is the safe space it creates for connection.

For each volunteer shift, six orange chairs are set out for “friends” to sit and chat with volunteers, providing an empathetic ear. People experiencing homelessness are humans, and this simple yet powerful action gives them their humanity back.

The movement has expanded to 38 locations across Australia, 14 of which are in remote communities. Recently, Orange Sky expanded to three new locations, including Greater Shepparton.

Orange Sky launched at Family Haven in Mooroopna, at the back of St Albans Anglican Church on October 15.

The growing number of families accessing support at Family Haven is what prompted Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project executive officer Amy Robinson to contact Orange Sky.

“We basically have seen such an increase in demand because of the cost-of-living crisis,” Amy said.

“We’ve serviced as many families in the first six months of this year as what we did for the whole of last year.”

So far, around 249 families have accessed support from the Lighthouse Project — an alarming figure.

“We were having an increased number of families that were either at risk of sleeping rough or some of them were on the brink of homelessness and sort of couch surfing,” Amy said.

The rising cost of living left many families unable to afford laundry services, which prompted Amy and Mooroopna St Albans Anglican Priest Simon Robinson to reach out to Orange Sky because of the increasing demand for help.

“They’re sort of putting all their money towards rent,” Amy said.

“So as a result, Simon and I talked about putting in washers and a washing machine to dry here, but we thought in terms of scale and really solving the problem for the broader community.

“I was thinking, there must be a better way.

“So, I did a lot of research, and I had heard about Orange Sky, and I thought their model was awesome.

“I basically rang Megan and begged her to come to our community.

“That’s how it started three months ago.”

Orange Sky was just in the process of scaling out into regional Victoria, so when Amy reached out to Orange Sky regional co-ordinator Megan Collins, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

“We identified Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton as key areas in regional Victoria that were needing Orange Sky’s help,” Megan said.

“Amy reached out at the right time.

“(It was) very fortuitous.

“We’ve just gone from there.”

Before Orange Sky expands to a new location, its team carefully reviews ABS data and homelessness census information, breaking it down by region and consulting the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s records to assess how many people accessed homelessness services in the past year.

Using this data, they compile a hardship score to guide their decisions, Megan explained.

“The Orange Sky model really resonated with our values and Simon’s values, because it’s all about just building a relationship with people, mutual respect and just supporting them with whatever it might be that they need in their life,” Amy said.

Amy acknowledged Gouge Linen’s generosity as it offered to reimburse the utility cost of the power and water, even providing linen packs of fresh towels and sheets to give to friends who used the service.

The washing service will be available four days a week: Monday from 9am to 11am, and 9am to noon Tuesday to Thursday.

No booking is required — it’s first come, first served.

“It’s a no-questions-asked and non-judgmental service. Anyone is welcome,” Amy said.

“We love to share this building with like-minded people that want to see the community built up and strengthened,” Simon said.

“It’s been a real joy to us to now partner with Orange Sky as well.

“We’re as committed to this partnership as we have been with the Lighthouse Project, and look forward to it being long, long-term, although I do hope one day there won’t be a need for this kind of service, because everyone will have what they need.”