Church of Christ Kalgoorlie’s M25 seeks funding to build new shower block for homeless and disadvantaged

Free showers for homeless and disadvantaged community members could soon cease to exist as a local organisation faces increasing costs. Church of Christ Kalgoorlie’s M25 organisation, which currently hosts the mobile showers on loan from One Voice, is hoping to raise enough money to develop its own purpose-built showers for the future. The decision comes as M25 co-ordinator Tracey McCartney says the cost of the two One Voice showers would at least triple from the original cost at the end of this year. The showers were hired for $5000 a year for the first two years before increasing to $10,000 this year, but Ms McCartney said it had been proposed to go up to $15,000 to 20,000 next year. In its first year, the showers were used 3240 times and in 2024 that increased to 4859 — with between 300 and 600 showers being used each month. Ms McCartney said the showers had been well received and were a valuable resource, and investing in purpose-built showers would give greater certainty for the future of the service for the community. A builder provided a quote for a three-shower block at $70,000, but Ms McCartney said they were now hoping to make it four showers. With electrical and plumbing works also needed, she said the group was looking at about $100,000 for the project. “If we can’t find the money we are hoping a mining company might have a block of showers lying around that they aren’t using anymore and they could donate or sell to us,” she said. “That would be the quicker option. “It would just break my heart if we had a period of time where we had no showers because there’s just nowhere else for people to have a shower. “The showers aid a lot with their dignity and they feel a lot better — fresher and cleaner — and it helps with anyone who might have wounds or things like that as well.” M25 provides the showers for free as well as meals, blankets and clothing for those in need — all donated from the community. The Kalgoorlie Miner spoke to some of M25’s attendees on Tuesday, with Cherelle Robertson, Patrick Edwards, Priscilla Robertson and Kyvia Richards all agreeing they would have nowhere else to shower if the One Voice truck left. Cherelle said she had lived in Kalgoorlie-Boulder for four years but this was the only place she could have a shower every day. She said the showers helped her get warm and made her feel better about herself. Kyvia said the showers were crucial for homeless people and said doubling the amount of showers would help a lot of people. Patrick said being able to have a shower and get clean clothes in the morning helped him have a good day. Priscilla, who is currently homeless, asked anyone who was able to help reach the financial goal to step in so the community who needed it most did not have to go without.