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Bus delivers health

Vic homeless assistance charity One Voice has a new mobile shower bus thanks to Ventura

Ventura had donated a bus to be used as a mobile shower and health service for Melbourne’s homeless.

One of the many challenges faced by people living on the streets is maintaining personal hygiene, which leads to deteriorating health and potentially terminal illnesses.

Many have no choice but to shower in public toilet blocks, which if far from ideal.

Ventura general manager of fleet and maintenance Michael Hourn says he is pleased to be able to support such a worthwhile venture.

“The One Voice mobile shower and health service for Melbourne is a great idea,” he says.

“It’s a fantastic use of a retired bus helping the homeless and less fortunate.

“Ventura is extremely proud to be supporting Josh and his team at One Voice and are happy to be assisting to deliver dignity, one shower at a time.”

The bus was handed over to One Voice president Josh Wilkins last month who says this will allow the service to reach the people who need it most and cover a wider area in the community.

Wilkins in now in the process of gaining his bus driver’s license.

The bus fit out will take about six weeks and will then be driven down the Mornington Peninsula to the Rosebud, Mt Eliza and McCrae areas.

The One Voice team is in the midst of refitting the bus interior into a mobile shower service offering homeless people a safe place to shower, brush their teeth and gain access to free clothing and hygiene products.

One Voice launched their mobile shower service as a four months trial project last year, at which time the facility was located in Batman Park.

At that time they charity was using a stationary trailer, meaning the service could only operate in one area.

An average of 14 people used the mobile shower service per night during the trial and users explained that public facilities the Melbourne CBD and outer suburbs are limited, with little or no access on weekends.

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