A load of hope: 11 Years of Orange Sky’s impact

Behind every shower or load of laundry, Orange Sky is proving small acts of care can make a big difference for people experiencing homelessness and hardship.

It started with a simple load of washing.

When a woman in Brisbane found herself living in her car after rent became unaffordable, her first contact with homelessness services came through Orange Sky: a charity that’s been operating for more than a decade to support people experiencing hardship.

The woman had been working 25 hours a week as a cleaner when her rent was suddenly raised by $100 a week. Unable to meet the increased cost, she moved into her car. The woman’s temporary solution became a long-term one. She lived in her car for 18 months.

“Laundry and showers really are what we do,” says Orange Sky co-founder and CEO Lucas Patchett. “But actually, it’s the wraparound support and services that makes the real difference. The real impact is made with conversation and a connection to the individual, as well as the connection into and collaboration with other service providers, such as food services or housing providers.”

Through Orange Sky, the woman was able to wash her clothes, have a conversation with a volunteer, and eventually connect with a housing provider who supported her into long-term accommodation. “Imagine if you were living in a car,” Lucas says. “The washing that you’d need to do would stack up pretty quickly, especially if you’ve got blankets to wash as well. The woman’s first engagement with homelessness services turned out to be Orange Sky because she needed someone to do her washing.”

The woman’s story captures the spirit of what Orange Sky has always been about. “Our mission is to connect with communities and people. We want to support people who are experiencing hardship to engage with services and engage with longer-term accommodation.”

Looking towards 2030

Since 2014, Orange Sky has been building connections between communities and services through three simple tenants: clean laundry, a safe warm shower and a chat. From a single van in Brisbane to a network of vehicles across Australia and New Zealand, the charity has since provided over 500,000 loads of laundry and nearly 50,000 warm showers while creating safe, welcoming spaces for conversation and connection.

Eleven years on, Orange Sky’s mission remains as urgent as ever. As Lucas explains, the charity’s strength lies in its ability to adapt and keep showing up wherever and whenever it is needed – whether that’s in the aftermath of a cyclone, at a crisis accommodation centre, or outside a domestic violence shelter.

“For us, the vans and trucks are really great tools,” he says. “They’re connectors that help us show up in new ways and tailor what we do to individuals or small communities, wherever support is needed.”

That spirit of innovation and commitment, showing up again and again, has driven Orange Sky through more than a decade of change and impact. As costs of living and rates of homelessness (hidden and visible) increase across Australia, the organisation is looking ahead with a bold plan for the future.

By 2030, Orange Sky hopes to expand its services to reach even more people across Australia and New Zealand, while deepening its partnerships with frontline agencies and housing providers.

The team also hopes to secure additional sustained, multi-year funding. “This will give the organisation the stability to invest in new vans, train volunteers, and respond rapidly to disasters or emerging community needs.”

For philanthropists, Orange Sky represents an opportunity to create long-term, systemic impact through an approach that’s grounded in compassion and trust. Lucas has seen first-hand how donations really do change the lives of generations.

“Each dollar donated doesn’t just wash clothes; it helps to sustain relationships that can impact lives.

“Our belief isn’t that it starts with a load of laundry – it starts with a conversation. You never know where that conversation and connection can lead to in a person’s life.”

Orange Sky is supported by a number of trusts managed by Equity Trustees.
 

“Each dollar donated doesn’t just wash clothes; it helps to sustain relationships that can impact lives.”