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TTC bus retrofitted to serve people living on streets

Past its days of ferrying transit users from their homes to work and shopping, a retired TTC bus is being put to a new use — for the homeless.

The charitable organization Hygiene on Wheels has launched the retrofitted bus to offer mobile shower and laundry facilities for people living on Toronto streets.

A small crowd of HOW staff, media and well-wishers attended the launch on Aug. 24 in the parking lot at Holy Blossom Temple on Bathurst Street.

HOW officials and Ward 21 councillor Joe Mihevc were among speakers introducing the retrofitted bus on the lot.

The project was announced in December when HOW estimated it would cost more than $75,000 to outfit the bus with gender-neutral and wheelchair accessible facilities.

The bus is to park in different areas of the city each day to allow people living on the streets to take hot showers, launder clothes, use a bathroom and obtain street kits including sleeping bags, clothes and hygiene products.