‘Showers of Blessing’
Church & community address hygiene among homeless By Julie B. Sevig
I
magine going 10 years without a shower or bath. Tat was the story of one homeless man who recently had his first shower in a
decade thanks to Christ Lutheran Church, Goleta, Calif. Before the church’s mobile shower, the
Those in the communities of Goleta and Isla Vista, Calif., who are homeless can shower and get clean clothes thanks to a mobile trailer paid for by the sale of a university religious center.
‘The apparent death of a ministry …
man could only get clean by using the cold- water beach showers for washing off sand or bathroom sinks at fast food restaurants. Te idea for “Showers of Blessing” was put into
planted the seed for the … message of God’s love.’
action last fall but had been brewing for some time, said Ron Cox, pastor. Te church was already a designated “safe parking” site for people forced to sleep in their cars and a sponsor of a food pantry. At a church stewardship dinner, folks started dis-
cussing what more they could do. Parishioners, one of whom is a clinical social worker, talked about the hygiene needs of the homeless. Meanwhile, the ecu- menical group Health, Empowerment and Love (HEAL) was meeting at Christ Lutheran. HEAL, which operates under the Interfaith Initiative of Santa Barbara County to help the homeless in Goleta and Isla Vista, had iden- tified the two greatest needs of its neighbors without homes: a safe place to sleep and a warm shower. Out of these two discussions, the portable shower
became a solution. When Cox and Doug Miller, another pastor from
HEAL, went to the public health office to ask about regulations, they found an open door and people open to possibilities. “Tey had nothing like this and had never seen anything like this before. Tis was a huge health issue that affects the community,” Cox said. When the University Religious Center in Isla Vista
had to close, the ELCA’s portion of the profits from the sale of its building were returned to Christ Lutheran, whose pastor also serves in campus ministry. Te pro- ceeds could only be used for local social justice efforts. Te congregation agreed to use part of the money for
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www.thelutheran.org
a portable shower. HEAL raised oper- ational money, a truck was donated to move the trailer and Christ Lutheran went shopping for a two-shower/ toilet/sink mobile trailer, which cost $32,561. Each week the trailer is parked at two churches; once a month it’s at the community center. As an act
of stewardship, the wastewater is used to water shrubs. Cox introduced the ministry at the community
Good Friday service: “Te apparent death of a ministry, that sale of a building, planted the seed for the concrete, physical message of God’s love, of God’s grace to be pro- claimed in a new way. People on the streets, our neigh- bors without houses, had heard talk about a God, but had not come face-to-face with the reality of God’s love and grace. Te shower trailer ministry is doing that.” One person told Cox he felt human aſter taking a hot
shower. Another said, “Seeing this and getting to know you, maybe there is something to this story about a God who loves you aſter all.” About 10 members and 40 University of California–
Santa Barbara students volunteer. Tey clean and sanitize the shower aſter every use, check people in and offer clean towels. If clients wish, their clothes will be washed and ready for them on their next visit. Donated clothes, toothbrushes and razors, resources
and lunch are also offered. Te part-time operations manager was chosen from
the cliental. Other clients volunteer to launder towels and serve on the steer- ing committee that governs the program. “Tis ministry
provides more than showers and clean clothes,” Cox said. “It provides hope.”
Author bio: Sevig is managing editor of The Lutheran and a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago.
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