Imagine it’s summer and you’ve spent the entire day outdoors. Now picture the relief and comfort you’ll feel after a shower and clean change of clothes. When you are homeless, these simple acts that most of us take for granted are often out of reach. Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s Lancaster County Homeless Coalition (Lanc Co MyHome) is addressing this community need with the purchase of a mobile hygiene unit.
The unit is more than a facility for personal hygiene. It is an endeavor aimed at restoring human dignity to a population that is too often overlooked. “We’ve heard for a long time that the individuals we serve who live outside really want showers. They don’t have the money to join a gym for access to their facilities, and there aren’t public showers in our community,” said Jennifer L. Koppel, MHA, director, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s Office for Lanc Co MyHome. Black and brown populations represent 28 and 25 percent of the homeless population, respectively. “It’s important to make sure we are using a racial equity lens when we create and deploy services,” Koppel added.
Anticipated to arrive in September, the trailer (to be pulled by a truck) will house two shower/sink combinations and an office for community care — from mobile medical care provided by the Lancaster Emergency Medical Services Association (LEMSA), to social services offered by a variety of partner organizations. The staff will hand out free underwear and socks, as well as non-perishable snacks.
Funding from a grant will make it possible to offer paramedicine services to anyone in need, regardless of insurance. Services will include vaccines, wound care and blood pressure checks. The unit will also offer access to behavioral health services via telehealth.
Learn more at http://lanccomyhome.org.