Georgia Tech Students Partner to Create a Mobile Laundry Bus

With the help of Georgia Tech students, a local nonprofit is restoring dignity and hope to Atlanta's homeless population with its innovative Mobile Laundry Bus.

Founded by Nicky Crawford, Flowing with Blessings Inc. provides essential services such as showers and clean clothing to people experiencing homelessness, a first step toward getting individuals back on their feet. The organization's new Mobile Laundry Bus - designed and built in collaboration with Georgia Tech industrial design students - furthers this important and compassionate work.

Having provided showers for homeless people for several years, Flowing with Blessings wanted to find a way to allow their clients to leave with clean clothes. Providing new clothes helped, but the clients often wanted to keep the clothes they had. Crawford bought a school bus to convert into a mobile laundry service and came to Georgia Tech for help figuring out how to do it.

Under the guidance of Steve Chininis, professor of Practice in the School of Industrial Design, industrial design students Zaria Hardnett, David Hounyo, Lily Liang, Claudia Ross, and Anushka Vaidya, undertook the Mobile Laundry Bus project as part of a Summer Studio industrial design course for juniors and seniors.

Using their design and engineering skills, the team was involved in every step of the process, from brainstorming and sketching concepts to developing 3D models and ensuring the final design was practical and user-centered.

Since the solution had to be mobile, and there was no guarantee of clean water at some locations, the students had to determine how to add large tanks of clean water. They thought through how the workflow for the helpers could work and then designed the layout of the washers and dryers for an effective operation.

The inspiration behind the Mobile Laundry Bus stemmed from Crawford's desire to ease the burden of daily life for the people they serve, allowing them to retain cherished items and maintain personal hygiene without the stigma people often associate with homeless populations.

The organization has already made a significant impact, serving over 4,500 individuals and assisting approximately 60 people on each day of operation. The joy and fulfillment the team at Flowing with Blessings feels stems from witnessing the positive effects their services have on the community. Providing clean clothes and the opportunity to shower is, Crawford said, "a crucial step in helping these individuals regain their dignity and begin the process of rebuilding their lives."

However, the journey has not been without challenges. One of the biggest obstacles faced by Flowing with Blessings is the lack of resources necessary to help people experiencing homelessness transition to a more stable living situation. Despite these challenges, the organization remains steadfast in its mission. "We urge everyone to be the change they wish to see in the world," Crawford said.

The partnership between Flowing with Blessings Inc. and Georgia Tech showcases the power of community collaboration in addressing real-world problems. "It was so exciting to be able to have our students work on this amazing project," Chininis said. "It allowed students to make an immediate and direct impact in our community! They were instantly engaged because they were working with an amazing client who was helping real people."