Homeless people are dirty and smelly. Maybe even said it yourself. Well, of course they are. How do they take a shower or do their laundry when they have no place to do it? Well . . .thank goodness that projects like these are started by community members without help from the government, because the government isn’t going to provide services like these.
Important Project Bubbles Update Upon the Withdrawal of LaundryLand Laundromat as Program Venue:
The transformative companion services of Project Bubbles and ShowerPower are well used and much appreciated. They fill a great and obvious need, with the natural outcomes of improved health, dignity and opportunity. The Madison Homelessness Initiative is committed to seeing that these services remain available.
We regret that the management of LaundryLand on Sherman Avenue has called an end to their participation in the project, and on rather short notice. Please note that Thursday Dec. 29, 2011 will be the last day that they will honor Project Bubbles coupons, with date of issue being no later than Dec. 22. The project has operated out of LaundryLand for the past 6 months and we are grateful to them for that opportunity and the start of Project Bubbles at a staffed 7 day a week location.
Consequently, access to free self-service laundry facilities for individuals living homelessness will be made possible beginning January 2, 2012 only on Mondays noon – 4pm at Affiliated Laundries, Inc., 701 E. Johnson St. corner of Blount Street. There will be volunteers on location to facilitate use of the machines. Laundry detergent and dryer sheets are free of charge.
Authorized Project Bubbles coupons are still required and can be obtained as usual at Bethel Lutheran Church from Mark Wilson on Wednesdays and Thursdays 1-4pm, or at First United Methodist (FUMC) from ShowerPower volunteers on Wednesday and Friday mornings 10am-noon, or from FUMC Community Outreach Coordinator Susan Jeannette when available or from FUMC administrative staff. Due to the more convenient location of this laundromat, bus tickets will not generally be given out for this service except to individuals with mobility limitations.
Madison Homelessness Initiative is hoping to expand the days and hours for this service as soon as possible, and is seeking a solution to best accommodate this. We will do our utmost to keep you advised.
Please feel free to contact me with ideas, concerns or questions.
Well, sounds like the laundry service is being limited, but its still available. Just think how you can just run downtstairs, throw your laundry in the wash, cook dinner or watch tv or check your email, and then throw it in the dryer and fold it whenever you want – no restrictions.
Now, imagine have to walk to one place to get a ticket, so you can walk another place (7 – 8 blocks away) with your laundry and you can only do your wash one day of week during a 4 hour period and if you have another appointment, you might not make it.
I’m not ripping on the service, I’m grateful its there, its just sad this is the only way it can get done.
