KarunaNews Story

For years, the Austin, Texas, nonprofit Maximizing Hope has teamed up with HPF Hearts for the Homeless to run a life-changing laundry program for locals experiencing homelessness. For nine months each year, they offer pop-up laundromat events with the promise of two double loads of laundry and "all the fixin's" of detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. Tonya Coy, the founder of Maximizing Hope, said most guests come expecting a free laundry day, without realizing a network of volunteers are waiting to help them with health care services, housing applications, and more. "What catches them by surprise is the sack lunch, hygiene kits, CapMetro bus passes, clothing and shoes from Kerby's Clothing Ministry, notary services, DPS ID payments, and Ending Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) Coordinated Assessments to see if they are eligible for housing," Coy wrote on the organization's Facebook page. Coy said that Maximizing Hope is all about setting people up for success with realistic solutions that lead to long-term housing.