The Good Shepherd was established in 2003 by the Brothers of Saint John of God to address poverty, homelessness and inequality in Wolverhampton. We support people to obtain accommodation, move towards employment, access training or education and develop skills to build self-reliance. The new premises on Waterloo Road contains space for us to deliver all our existing services but at a much higher standard. We will establish a “one stop shop” that will include the food service, temporary overnight accommodation delivered by Enterprise Homes Group, clinical space, counselling rooms and a multi-agency hub. We're currently refurbishing the building and need to raise funds for the shower block and laundry facilities. We've already raised and invested over £165,000 into the new centre. The shower and laundry will be available for people in the night shelter or who are street homeless.

What we'll deliver:

• Create a shower block and laundry facilities for rough sleepers

Why it's a great idea:

The showers and laundry offer practical support for people sleeping rough in Wolverhampton but they're also a key engagement tool. During showers, support staff are on site to offer advice and guidance around housing, education and employment and partner agencies like Wolverhampton Homes and RMC will also be on site for additional support. Some fantastic work is happening in Wolverhampton to address homelessness with local charities, the local authority, the police and other agencies working closely together to better meet people's needs. The Good Shepherd is a key partner in this activity and our new centre will help us to reach out to even more people sleeping rough in the city. Having a purpose built shower and laundry facility will enable us to engage and work with some of the most disadvantaged people in Wolverhampton.

Steps to get it done:

• Purchasing the showers and commercial washing machine
• Construction and plumbing work to install showers
• First delivery of the shower and laundry service