New Mobile Shower Service Makes Weekly Stop at Health Agency Campus
Author: Public Health Department
Date:
9/20/2017 2:58:56 PM
A mobile shower service from local nonprofit Hope's Village is now in operation each week at the Health Campus, providing service to residents who do not otherwise have access to a shower.
People who are homeless in SLO County now have a new option for accessing a private shower—complete with clean towels, soap and shampoo, and a clean set of clothes—thanks to a new mobile shower service provided by the local nonprofit Hope's Village of SLO. The County has provided a location for Hope's Village to set up the service, called Showers of Hope, each week so that community members can access it in a safe, reliable location.
"It was a stellar day," said Hope's Village founder and president Becky Jorgeson after their first day at the location. "County staff worked with us to find a viable site and get a use permit up behind the old General Hospital on Johnson. We're sending you our sincere gratitude to all who made this possible. By trusting in Hope's Village volunteers, nine of our local homeless neighbors showered leisurely in a private mobile bathroom yesterday, put on clean clothes, got a snack and water, and lots of love and compassion. They walked away feeling better ... you could see it in their smiles."
The location, on the Health Agency Campus, is accessible by public bus. Hope's Village volunteers also provide transportation to the location to those who need it.
"I gladly support the efforts of Hope’s Village to provide mobile shower facilities for people without regular access to showers," said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County of San Luis Obispo Health Officer. "Homelessness and the inability to maintain personal hygiene increases the risk of developing diseases and can also turn a relatively minor health problem into a serious illness. The benefits of stable, clean and safe housing to health are without question, and while mobile showers do not solve homelessness, this is a very good step in the right direction. Thank you to Hope’s Village and their supporters for bringing 'Showers of Hope' to our community."
The mobile showers also offer an opportunity for volunteers to help community members connect with other services to address the challenges they face.
"We talked with them—learned their name, contact info, age, if they were a veteran, how long they've been homeless, where they're from, what their issues are, and what help they want/need in the way of housing, jobs and other services," said Jorgeson. "They were happy to talk."
The Showers of Hope mobile shower service is available:
Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
At the parking lot next to the Health Agency Campus, 2180 Johnson Avenue
From the intersection Johnson and Bishop, continue uphill on Bishop and look for the large white trailer
See map >>
Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
At the United Church of Christ, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road
See map >>
Hope's Village welcomes volunteers for the mobile shower service and other programs. To learn more, visit www.hopesvillageofslo.com/showers.