Laundry Care
Fresh clothes
Shared Support
Renewed Hope
Laundry insecurity:
facing competing priorities like food, shelter, utilities-all which come before laundry expenses
30-50% of
low-income families report
laundry insecurity
How do families cope with laundry insecurity?
Adopting strategies like wearing clothes multiple days without washing or reusing disposable undergarments to stretch the laundry budget
Our facilities
Heart of the City provides 5 washers and 5 dryers to those experiencing laundry insecurity at no cost. Volunteers prepare pre-portioned laundry soap packages.
Laundry services are available on Sunday mornings on a first come first served basis and is available to anyone in need of the services
Our Vision
A single family laundry load can cost $3-$7 at a laundromat
Heart of the City seeks to expand the number of dryers to accommodate as many families as possible, efficiently.
A typical family experiencing laundry insecurity would save on average $150-$350 per year, per load. With growing families the savings increases exponentially, allowing them to allocate their financial resources to food, shelter, medication and health care
Our Purpose
Improve Health & Hygiene
Reliable laundry access reduces communicable illnesses by:
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Removing bacteria, fungi & viruses from clothing and bedding
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Reducing skin irritations and infections associated with wearing unwashed clothing
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Supporting overall personal hygiene practices
Public health research shows access to laundry correlates with fewer outbreaks of skin infections & respiratory illnesses
Support Mental Well-Being and Self-Esteem
Adults and children without clean clothes experience:
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Embarrassment
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Social Anxiety
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Avoidance of community activities or school
A survey of low-income populations found a lack of clean clothes contributes to social isolation and stress particularly among women and teens
Increase School and Workforce Participation
Our HEART is to end generational poverty. Access to laundry means:
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Increased school attendance (less absences due to hygiene issues or social anxiety)
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Job interviews and employment retention
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Participation in community activities