Could the simple service of a free, hot shower be a solution to the complex issue of homelessness?
It could be if the restoration of dignity is the start of a relationship that gets someone off the streets and into a supportive environment, says House of Hope Community Development Corp.
In launching a Shower to Empower mobile navigation unit April 17, House of Hope and Providence officials expressed optimism that the mobile trailer will provide a critical link to needed services.
The pickup-truck-hauled trailer is equipped not only with enclosed showers, but also a consultation room. The latter will allow people to meet privately with trained professionals, including those who work with people with mental illness and drug or alcohol problems.
A solution to homelessness is more complex than a 20-by-8-foot trailer. But sometimes a seemingly simple barrier such as hygiene is strong enough to prevent someone from seeking help, work or a meeting with a health professional, explained Laura Jaworski, executive director of the Warwick-based House of Hope.
“What I … see this as is one effort to complement our current street-based outreach program,” she said. “What we’ve learned from that experience is it takes a long time to build rapport and engage with individuals.”
Partially funded by the city, using $190,200 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the staff, and $65,000 from Team Williams LLC for the trailer, the mobile unit will initially be parked at 59 Central St. in Providence. Team Williams is a philanthropic effort founded by Bret Williams, a Narragansett-based entrepreneur.
At the mobile unit, showers and haircuts will be available daily. Most people take these things for granted, but they are a steppingstone in themselves, she said.
“If I’m not able to meet my basic hygiene needs … I’m not going to be able to go to a medical practitioner,” Jaworski said. “I’m not going to look presentable if I’m trying to have a job interview.”
According to Jaworski, the mobile unit is the first of its kind in New England.
HUD in December estimated the Providence homeless population at 1,180, a 2 percent increase year over year. The number doesn’t include the people living temporarily with relatives or friends.
The city in January 2017 selected House of Hope as the operator of its Providence Navigation Center, a proposed daytime program for individuals who are homeless. But after talks, the plans changed to the mobile shower unit, according to Victor Morente, a spokesman for Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.
The outreach component of the initiative is critically important, Morente said. “People are not necessarily aware of what resources are available.”
