A mobile shower trailer is getting closer to providing hot showers for people living outside — and it’s got a new name.
Food with Friends aims to get the Shower Outreach Project, or SOP (like sopping wet), operational in the next few weeks. Last summer, local outreach volunteers looked into getting a shower trailer after Share House discontinued providing showers to unsheltered clients, citing wear and tear on the building and sewage problems.
Portland-based PDX Cart Builder finished building the trailer, which has two showers, and it was recently moved to Vancouver. However, it still needs to be insured, registered and otherwise made street legal. Jamie Spinelli, a volunteer with Food with Friends and a case manager at Community Services Northwest, said there’s ongoing fundraising for the operational costs of the trailer. Also, she said, they’re looking for locations that could host it. The trailer connects directly to water, power and sewer. Those sites could offer as many or as few showers as they want, and provide volunteers to help staff it.
“We’re working on solidifying a schedule with locations and volunteers,” Spinelli said.
The aim is to bring the showers to different locations in the county, not just downtown. Orchards, Cascade Park and Hazel Dell are a few targeted areas. There’s also the matter of gathering hygiene products, laundry baskets and towels, though Spinelli isn’t sure where they’ll wash the towels.
