The City of Seattle is committed to stopping the spread of COVID-19. This public health crisis affects us all, including our some of our most vulnerable citizens, those experiencing homelessness. In an effort to continue to provide more resources, especially during these unprecedented times when public libraries, community centers, and other facilities have closed in accordance with public health guidelines, the City of Seattle is working to create more access to hygiene facilities.
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), Human Services Department (HSD), Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), and other City departments in partnership with Seattle City Council and Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) have deployed and are maintaining additional toilets and handwashing stations throughout the City.
Building on the previously announced resources, new hygiene stations will be deployed as well as hygiene trailers including showers that will be positioned in areas where individuals can be best served.
Some of the current locations for the handwashing facilities include:
- Near the Lake City Community Center
- Jefferson Park
- Westcrest Park
- Cal Anderson
- Benvenuto Viewpoint.
These locations were selected due to their proximity to active encampments. The facilities will be available to use from 7 am to 8 pm, seven days a week (even amidst the closure of some of our area parks). Daily maintenance, including sharps disposal and waste removal will be provided by the City.
The trailers contain showers, toilets and hand washing stations. Once installed, the facilities will be staffed by a City contracted service provider and daily maintenance will be provided per guidance of public health officials. Shower programs at Rainier, Delridge, Green Lake, and Meadowbrook community centers also remain open to the public.
These are some of the efforts being made to provide an increase in resources for this population. SPU has also partnered with HSD’s Navigation Team and their partners to address public health and safety in unmanaged encampments. We are working help mitigate the increase in litter and trash offering collection services over the next several weeks. SPU is also increasing our pump-out services for RVs.
Since the beginning of March, SPU has removed 22,330 pounds of litter and disposed of 3,869 sharps. In addition, the Navigation Team has distributed nearly 1,400 hygiene kits and has partnered with City departments to remove more than 66,920 pounds of waste, garbage and debris removal from unmanaged encampments since mid-March.
For more information and guidance on effective sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as preventative measures, visit:
https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus.aspx