Hygiene Hub Debuts

In spring of 2021, we broke ground on our new Hygiene Hub; and in October, we provided our first showers and laundered our first loads. The new service, housed here in our building at 150 Golden Gate Avenue, ensures that all of our guests have safe, regular access to these basic resources. As Service Lead CC McKneely-Bolds says, “Everyone has the right to water.”

Nibbi Brothers General Contractors built the facility, which features three unisex showers that guests can use for up to 15 minutes at a time. Shower guests also have access to clothing kits for immediate use, and four washer-dryer machines are available for folks looking to launder the clothing they already have.

The Hygiene Hub has been enthusiastically received by guests. Brian C., who’s been living on the street for five years, told us that he usually has to find a sink to wash up in, and was thankful to have this option. Hjalmar B. said he had been feeling a little tired and dirty, and the shower was just what he needed. When asked about the water temperature and pressure, Anne A. said that “everything was perfect.”

The Hygiene Hub will eventually operate eight hours a day, 365 days a year, providing 26,000 showers and 10,000 laundered loads annually. The Hygiene Hub team also hopes that it will serve as a respite for guests, a place where they can relax and leave feeling refreshed and uplifted.