WASH Bus

While there are a few names for this idea, Soapbox bus, WASH bus, etc, the idea is very straightforward: provide those experiencing homelessness with access to fully working bathrooms. This simple, yet crucial part of every day life cannot always be accessed by those living on the streets and can widen the barrier to re-enter into society. In providing this service, this project aims to restore dignity and eradicate preventable diseases experienced from a lack of hygiene. It can also display a better way of approaching homelessness; 45 percent of the city’s homelessness budget is used to incarcerate and harass the homeless population.

To get an initial design for the WASH bus, Absolute Ablutions was the first organization to consult. With a specialized focus on mobile sanitation trailers, they designed the perfect bus for our project, complete with four showers and four bathrooms. Additionally, the paint job on the bus was designed by an urban art organization, Baz-Art to reflect the day-to-day lives of those experiencing homelessness.

The final key partner in this project is U-Turn, an NGO focused on shaping a path back into society for the homeless population of Cape Town. U-Turn developed a voucher program that allow those in need to earn vouchers by cleaning up trash which they are able to use on food and clothing. With this system, those with these vouchers can use them for the WASH bus. This way it avoids the feeling of receiving a “hand out”, rather someone experiencing homelessness could feel a sense of accomplishment that may be missing from their day to day life.

This WASH Bus was initiated at the end of 2021. However, a major roadblock was hit with the city government as this project required access to city water. Although this hindered the project, it did not stop there and the first WASH bus rolled out on July 2022. Appropriately named, “Nina Manzi”, meaning mother of water, the bus served those in the Claremont neighborhood for the pilot program. Since then, it has expanded to two other neighborhoods, Muizenberg and Michelles Plain. During the first months, there was a noticeable disparity between the amount of men versus women using the services. To welcome more women to use the facilities, there are separate entrances for both men and women.

This project has received a great deal of local media coverage, interviewing those using this bus. Some users have very expected responses, with many using the shower facilities before a job interviews and one user reporting “feeling fresh and ready to go,” after a fresh shower. However, this can be an emotional experience for some. One women who has lived on the streets for 30 years said, “I just cried underneath the water”. These reports show the social benefits of this project by providing the opportunity to restore confidence before job interviews. However, it also displays the mental anguish and anxiety homelessness can bring and how powerful providing the services of the WASH bus may be in relieving those mental conditions.  

While Viva con Aqua and Love Foundation carried out a WASH project known as WINS (WASH in Schools) in the 2020, the homelessness epidemic facing Cape Town was something that could no longer be ignored. The main objective identified was the re-socialization of people experiencing homelessness who deal with the immense anxiety of street noise, insecure housing, and potential financial debt. From this, the idea of the WASH bus was founded.