The Hope Tank

By Tim Miner

Where Are We in CLT?

Okay. This one is a bit of a cheat. In the case of the Hope Tank, the question is more “Where ISN’T it?” than where it is. You’ll find the Tank exactly where it’s needed, where Charlotte’s homeless are living.

After more than a year in development, the Hope Tank is a mobile shower and laundry center created by the local nonprofit, Hope Vibes. The organization’s mission is to bring awareness, hope and real solutions to the homeless epidemic. The Hope Tank provides showers and laundry services, as well as toilets and sinks to those living on the street.

While there are other mobile shower vehicles in operation around the country, the Hope Tank was designed to offer beauty as well as function. For the Hope Vibes team, just providing mobile showers and laundry wasn’t enough. They incorporated art and beauty to provide a comfortable, attractive experience with a “home-like” feel.

Fast Facts on the Hope Tank

When full of water, it weighs 18K-19K pounds
There are two single-stall restrooms
There are 3 sets of washer and dryers inside the Tank
They use separate laundry bags to wash and dry for multiple people at the same time
The colorful art inside of Tank was created by Frankie Zombie (The artist behind one of the “T’s” in Charlotte’s “Black Lives Matter” mural.)

To date, the Hope Tank is in service only one day a week, but Hope Vibes is planning to increase that as they find partners throughout the city that will provide water and access to their City clean-outs.

Development of the Hope Tank was made possible by donations from individuals, businesses and local churches. The Tank relies on donations of towels, wash clothes, liquid soap, low sud laundry detergent, and monetary donations. Those interested in volunteering with the Tank or other Hope Vibes programs can do so here.