Garden Shelter Coordinator Regina Madden says: “The washing machine and dryer will certainly be of great use and value to our guests – they will get great satisfaction from doing their own laundry.”
Ms Madden has seen evidence of this in other similar settings (Cana comprises multiple community houses, church-based shelters, as well as a working farm). “Simple domestic chores like washing and drying clothes can help to give normality to the lives of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” she says. “It’s something that most of us take for granted.”
Each Wednesday night and most Thursday nights the church hall is configured as a space of welcome, safety, nourishment and rest. Volunteers share a supper with up to 12 guests, who help lay mattresses with fresh sheets and blankets. Guests enjoy a hot shower, but have not been able to wash their socks, pants or shirts. They can now look forward to leaving in the morning, feeling refreshed and looking fresh too.
The Church, too, is grateful to the Club Redfern board for this significant upgrade. “It’s wonderful when improvements can be made to services,” says Naomi Ward, who joined the Church Council late last year. “We are really happy to be actively involved and proud to partner with Cana Communities.”
