In the depths of a Ballarat winter two buses were parked in the CBD on Thursday night.
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About 25 people sat on cold concrete in the darkness. They spoke quietly as they waited their turn to board one bus for a shower, the other bus offered soup.
Each person had their own story which had led them to the buses.
But all were united in their need for dignity and nourishment
It was one young woman's first time using the services after escaping family violence at her home.
They say most people see them as invisible.
- Danni Trezise, Shower Bus volunteer
She has been staying in a budget hotel for three nights. Coming to the Soup Bus means she can have a hot meal for dinner.
Her friend, who is staying in the same budget hotel, was released from prison nine weeks ago, and has been using the Soup Bus service regularly.
An older man who was kicked out of his rental accommodation when the lease ended said he was thankful for the Soup Bus and Shower Bus that had continued operating throughout lockdown periods.
He said he had ill-health from kidney failure which meant he could not work and living on government payments left no money for food and other items after paying for accommodation.
One Humanity Shower Bus volunteer Danni Trezise said it was seeing children come with their families to use the service that hit her the hardest emotionally.
She was volunteering last Sunday when a couple and their four children, one as young as 18 months, came to collect warm clothing and have a shower.
The children didn't have shoes and it was a rare opportunity to shower for the family while they were living in their car.
The Shower Bus offers its service on a Thursday and Sunday. It operates at the same time as the Soup Bus which parks next door, but the Soup Bus operates a total of five nights a week.
One man had a shower at the bus on Thursday night and thanked volunteers before walking back to his car.
The service is for many more people than the rough sleeper most would think about when they first hear the word homelessness.
Ms Trezise said some visitors to the service had a house, but could not afford to pay the electricity bill so did not have hot water or heating.
Others are couch surfing, sleeping in their car or sleeping rough.
Some have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, some have been in prison, have fled family violence or have problems with mental health, alcohol or drugs.
None have enough money to cover their essential needs.
The Shower Bus started five years ago as a community response to an identified service gap.
At that time, there were not many options in Ballarat for people experiencing homelessness to shower and meet their basic hygiene needs.
Now there are more options available during the day, but many have not been accessible during COVID-19 lockdown periods. The Shower Bus has continued operating throughout the pandemic.
About 30 volunteers, including some with a bus licence, keep the service running, but there is a need for more helping hands to meet the need.
There are two separate shower cubicles in the back of the bus and an area set up with blankets, coats, trackpants, socks, gloves and personal hygiene supplies in the middle.
Volunteers are making call outs for more donations of these items, particularly coats, jumpers and tracksuit pants.
Ms Trezise said anyone was welcome to use the service and there was no judgement.
For volunteers, it is as much about building relationships and offering a listening ear as offering a practical service.
"Sometimes you see the same faces every week, they will come and have a chat and talk about their week," she said.
"We chat to them because nobody else will. They say most people see them as invisible."
One visitor who sticks in Ms Trezise's mind was a man about her age, who had been married, working and had children when he was injured and on pain medication.
"Then he got addicted to it and he was on heroin, he lost his family and lost his job and was living on the street," she said.
"He was as intelligent as I was and that made me think about how easily it could happen to anybody really.
"Another one had just got out of prison. He was a nice, gentle quiet man who had done something stupid and gone to jail and got out and he was down one day saying he was struggling.
"He was saying 'I can't get a job, I don't want to ask my family for help because I am embarrassed and they might slam the door in my face.
"He said 'I think I want to commit some crime so then I can go back into jail where I am safe, dry, warm and fed' which is sad."
Paul Pickersgill has been a volunteer at both the Shower Bus and the Soup Bus for two years.
He said he was motivated to give his time by the thought of what people accessing the service would do if it was not available.
"There are 20 to 30 people coming every night for food. If we are not doing that, I am not quite sure where they eat," he said.
"The same with the Shower Bus, we are here two nights a week. We have already had a few people on for blankets and clothes tonight. If we are not here, they are not getting that.
"I did Christmas Eve and there were families rocking up with kids that night. That was hard. But the kids are always happy."
For visitors to the service like Daryl Kearney, it is hard to see a different path forward, with the tight and unaffordable rental market in Ballarat.
He will keep working his apprenticeship, paying almost as much as a rental each week for a bedroom at a budget accommodation facility and coming to the Soup Bus twice a week for meals to help him get by.
Homelessness Week runs from August 1 to 7 with an aim to raise awareness of the impacts of homelessness and the importance of housing as a solution.
People experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness in Ballarat can contact Uniting on 5332 1286 or by calling the 24-hour Victorian hotline on 1800 825 955.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
