Working to Provide Barrier-Free Hygiene Services in Calgary

Individuals experiencing homelessness face significant barriers and limited access to showers, washrooms, and laundry services where they feel safe and dignified.

As people who work in the homeless serving sector, my colleagues and I started examining why some individuals experiencing homelessness were not accessing the existing hygiene services, and we found out access, transportation, and quality of the facilities were key barriers. Current hygiene services are only offered at select locations, such as emergency shelters. This creates a major barrier for those who are not clients of these agencies and who intentionally avoid them because of safety concerns, negative experiences, or circumstances like having a pet or many personal belongings.

A significant gap needed to be filled to promote the dignity and well-being of individuals in Calgary through low-barrier hygiene and wraparound services.

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