Homeless ‘feel human again’ thanks to open public showers.

The homeless on the Sunshine Coast are able to “feel human again” thanks to a successful campaign to have all the showers at council’s public pools open to those living rough.
All nine council pools are now available seven days a week to those who need a shower, thanks to the efforts of Maleny campaigner for the homeless, Stacey Huish.
“A shower at the end of the day, is something that helps you feel human again,” Ms Huish explained.
“A lot of people who are living rough are actually working, or they have children that have to go to school, and at the end of the day they need to get clean, they need to have a shower, they need to feel human again.”
Ms Huish spent time with homeless residents in Brisbane, who had access to mobile showers, and she was dismayed that the same was not available to the homeless locally.
“There were lots of places to get food, but what was lacking was a hot shower,” she said. 
Ms Huish approached Division 10 Councillor David Law, and asked if council could open the community swimming pools to allow the homeless to have a free hot shower.
She said Cr Law was very supportive and got to work straight away. In a relatively short time, all nine Sunshine Coast public pools agreed to the idea and opened their showers to those in need, seven days a week.
“All they need to do is to go to either a community centre, neighbourhood centre, the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society and collect a pass that allows them access to the council pools,” Ms Huish explained.
“It’s been very successful and helpful so far. We have given out over 2000 passes already.”
Ms Huish said she was very thankful to Cr Law, Sunshine Cost Council and the swimming pool managements for supporting the homeless with this initiative.
The showers campaign is part of Ms Huish’s aim to create 1000 Ripple Effects, the idea that every positive action that we do has ongoing results far beyond the original effort.