A FREE shower facility for the homeless has opened at the Comfort Station in Frankston.
The facility, located at the end of Playne Street, was officially opened on 3 December.
The showers are run by local charity Donation Chain. The charity’s founder Helena Blomeley underwent a campaign before the opening, going a week without showering before washing at the public showers on the Frankston Foreshore. Those showers are out in the open, and only serviced with cold water (“Public facilities showered with support”, The Times, 12/11/19).
Donation Chain celebrated the opening of the facility on social media. “What a relief, the first day went really well. There is no better feeling than seeing someone’s eyes light up when they are told they can have a hot shower and everything is provided,” they said in a Facebook post.
“I can see we will run out of new socks, underwear, and towels in no time. So please if you see them on sale buy a few. We don’t have a laundry service available and it’s not nice to put dirty clothes back on after a shower.”
Frankston Council approved the spending $10,000 of ratepayer money towards the project late last year, while the federal government also agreed to put in $10,000.
The showers are open every Tuesday between 12.30 and 2.30pm.
Donation points for the charity include Bendigo Bank Frankston and Ebdale Community Centre Frankston