In San Francisco and throughout California, people experiencing homelessness and those living in extreme poverty don't often have access to showers and laundry facilities. During COVID, this problem has been exacerbated. Poor hygiene can have long-term physical and psychological effects on an individual.
At St. Anthony's, we have seen people use the outdoor water spouts intended for drinking to bathe themselves and to wash their clothing.
This is unacceptable.
We believe in dignity for all, and that starts with good hygiene. That's why we created our newest program: Hygiene Hub. We recently built three shower rooms and a laundromat for our guests to use—free of charge—7 days/week.
What would you do if you couldn't shower or wash your belongings? If you believe good hygiene is essential to human dignity, sign the pledge now, and let us know that you support safe access to water and cleanliness for everyone.
