A former cop turns a bus into a free mobile laundry service for the homeless

A free laundry service for unhoused community members in Maryland began with a moment Wade Milyard says came from “out of nowhere.”

At the time, Milyard was working as a canine officer with the Frederick Police Department. He believes the voice was a spiritual call, urging him to act.

That moment would quietly change the direction of his life and spark a mission that now brings dignity and comfort to people living without homes.

Several years ago, while still on duty, Milyard responded to a domestic dispute at a homeless encampment, Good News Network noted.

As he spoke with a couple living there, the voice pushed him to ask a simple question: how they washed their clothes. The answer stayed with him.

The couple said they used a nearby creek. From that point on, the former police officer helps homeless people in a very different way than he once did, by meeting a basic human need many take for granted.

A free laundry service for the unhoused community rooted in dignity

Milyard could not forget the couple’s answer. Clean clothes, he realized, were not just about looking presentable; they were also about feeling confident.

They were about dignity, health, and self-worth. The idea stayed with him long after his shift ended. Over time, he decided to act.

Using his own money along with donations from others, Milyard built a mobile laundromat for the homeless inside a large vehicle.

He named the project Fresh Step Laundry.

Its mission is simple and clear: provide a free laundry service for unhoused community members so they can feel clean, respected, and human.

Fresh Step Laundry was designed to go where people are. Instead of asking unhoused individuals to travel far or pay money they do not have, Milyard brings the service directly to them.

The mobile laundromat for the homeless features washers, dryers, detergent, and all the necessary equipment to perform laundry safely and with care.

A former police officer helps homeless neighbors full-time

At 45, Milyard retired from the police force and devoted his days to his mission.

Driving through his Maryland city near Washington, D.C., he follows a set schedule so people know when and where to find him.

His email is listed at the bottom of Fresh Step Laundry’s web page so people can reach out for help.

This former police officer helps homeless neighbors without charging a single cent. Although no money is exchanged, the impact is clear and powerful.

People leave with clean clothes and lifted spirits. Milyard says the results are worth more than any paycheck.

Those who use the service immediately notice the difference.

Chris Washington, one of the people helped by Fresh Step Laundry, shared how much clean clothes matter.

He explained that being clean makes a person feel better and prouder. Milyard often sees these reactions, and they continue to guide his work.

“That’s the thing,” Milyard said, “ You’re doing it to maybe give them a little bit of a boost. If having clean clothes can help them just a little bit, then my mission is fulfilled.”

The growing impact of a free laundry service for unhoused community members

The impact of Fresh Step Laundry continues to grow.

In just the last several weeks, the service has washed more than 2,000 pounds of laundry. Each load represents a person who feels seen, cared for, and respected.

Because the need is so great, Milyard has set his sights on the future and plans to add a second vehicle.

With another mobile laundromat for the homeless, he hopes to double the number of people he can serve and further expand his free laundry service for unhoused community members.

Watch how a free laundry service for unhoused community members is changing lives, catch the full story on CBS Evening News below: