"A number of council facilities were assessed and Arataki provided a safe and suitable location. Council hopes this will provide a small level of support to those families in need."
People wishing to use the shower will have to leave their car keys or something similar at the centre's reception in exchange for the key to use the facilities.
It was a free service and no appointment was necessary.
The council had previously decided to turn off hot water to the public toilets at Fergusson Park after residents complained about the number of freedom campers abusing the rules.
However, Ms Cuers said that decision had no connection to the facility at Arataki Community Centre.
Under the Stars Homeless in Tauranga manager Liz Kite said she was still finding people in Tauranga who needed somewhere to live.
"There is all sorts of situations going on at the moment."
Mrs Kite believed there were a few more people on the streets now winter had arrived.
"There is different people wanting homes, they are not happy being on the streets."
Opening the Arataki Community Centre's shower facilities for the homeless was a great idea, said Mrs Kite.
Voluntary organisation Under the Stars Homeless in Tauranga provided homeless people with a free meal and a chance to shower once a week.
"We open up the council building we rent on Cliff Rd every Saturday night," said Mrs Kite.
"I often get people messaging me on our Facebook page at night time saying they are cold and hungry, or they need a shower."
Mrs Kite said between 40 and 60 people visited the building every Saturday night to take a shower and tuck in to a free meal.
"I often try to provide them with a sleeping bag at least," said Mrs Kite. "We will give people bags of food, clothes, socks, toiletries, tents etc just so they can survive."
Merivale School principal Jan Tinetti, who is also Labour's Tauranga candidate, agreed opening the centre's shower was a great idea.
"If we had the ability around this area to do the same, it would be fantastic."
Huria Marae in Judea was set up last year to provide homeless people access to cooking facilities, an ablution block and a laundry room one day a week, said Ms Tinetti.
"It made such a difference."
Ms Tinetti recently spoke to a homeless Merivale mother who said her biggest concern was finding access to bathing facilities for herself and her child.
"She was currently relying on the good will of her friend to help her."
There were many community groups in Merivale that provided help for homeless, said Ms Tinetti. But she hoped there would be a long term fix to the problem.
"Short term we have got to look after the people living in those situations. But we have got to look at long term solutions so we are not letting these people get into these situations in the first place."
Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller thanked Arataki Community Centre for offering its facilities.
"This is a generous offer that very much reflects the values of our community here in the Bay."
Mr Muller said helping the homeless requires a community-wide response and cannot simply fall to one organisation whether it is central or local government or community groups and charities.
"We should applaud everyone who is doing their bit, not point fingers and pass the buck."
He said the Government was doing its bit by assisting the local men's shelter, investing in 220 new social and transitional houses, and spending $1.8 million each week to support more than 27,000 Bay households with housing costs.
