Seattle’s First Mobile Shower Unit to Provide Fresh Start for Neighbors Experiencing Homelessness
Amerigroup Washington, Seattle Union’s Gospel Mission and The
MORELove Project is “Washing-a-ton” to restore dignity to those sleeping
outside without access to showers
SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#Amerigroup–According to the 2016 point-in-time homeless census, 3,000 of our
neighbors in the Seattle area sleep outside each night and therefore do
not have access to showers. Seattle’s first mobile shower unit, Shower
the People, a reference to James Taylor’s “Shower the People [with
Love],” will kick-off spring season with showers beginning March 28,
2017 at 9701 Myers Way S, Seattle, the current site of Camp Second
Chance and future site of Mayor Murray’s authorized Myers Way encampment.
The shower unit is operated by Seattle’s
Union Gospel Mission, Amerigroup,
and The
MORELove Project. The Mission will provide the staffing and oversee
the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the shower unit. Thanks to
a generous gift from Amerigroup, the purchase of the shower unit was
made possible and Amerigroup will also provide residents regular
trainings and resources in areas of substance abuse, mental health, flu
prevention and more. The MORELove Project brought the partners
together and will provide ongoing volunteer support.
The partnered agencies will host a ribbon cutting and media event on
March 28 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., directly before opening for
service. Amerigroup has invited Sea Mar Community Health Centers to
participate in the launch event, whose navigators assist with Basic Food
Program and Medicaid Washington Apple Health applications as well as
provide referrals to healthcare services at their centers.
Shower services have long been on the Camp Second Chance website wish
list. One resident, Scott, exclaimed, “This is amazing!” upon hearing
the news.
The shower unit will begin service at the Camp Second Chance encampment
and will serve approximately 30 residents every Tuesday, with expansions
to other sites in coming months. Residents will each be able to take a
15 minute hot shower and receive clean, dry towels, shampoo, conditioner
and soap. This location was the first chosen based on the potential to
provide showers for all residents without re-filling the water tank and
ease of access for parking. The unit can provide up to 30 showers, two
at a time, before it needs to be refilled with water.
“Since the day Amerigroup started serving Washingtonians, we have been
committed to reaching people where they are,” said Daryl Edmonds,
Amerigroup Washington president. “This partnership is just another
example of how we remain devoted to bringing innovative healthcare
solutions while ensuring a great level of care and dignity to the
communities that we serve.”
“Our team is very excited to have another tool in our tool belt to help
those experiencing homelessness. The Mission serves more than 60
encampments on a regular basis, but we could not do it without faithful
partners and volunteers, such as Amerigroup and The MORELove Project.
This collaboration will allow our outreach team to offer a new, needed
service at some of these encampments and build further relationships
with those in greatest need,” said Jeff Lilley, president of Seattle’s
Union Gospel Mission.
“The MORELove Project exists to rally groups and companies together to
serve the needs of our homeless neighbors. It’s crucial not to work in
silos, and Shower the People is one example of three very different
organizations coming together to meet a common goal,” said Kristine
Moreland, founder and director of The MORELove Project. “We look forward
to seeing the difference this shower unit makes in the lives of our dear
friends on the streets.”
In the future, these organizations would like to expand shower services
to other sites throughout King County and look at other services that
might be mobilized to these same sites. For more information, please
visit www.ugm.org/showerthepeople.
About The MORELove Project
The MORELove Project was founded by longtime homeless advocate Kristine
Moreland, to provide transitional services that help lead the area’s
homeless to a safe and stable life. The Seattle-area
organization partners with businesses, non-profits, and community
organizations to provide care and services to those in need. In addition
to hosting large events throughout the year, every Tuesday night
MORELove volunteers walk the streets of Seattle with the Union Gospel
Mission, bringing food, clothing, and love to the homeless
community. For more information, visit www.themoreloveproject.org,
or on Facebook,
Twitter,
and Instagram.
About Amerigroup
Amerigroup Washington helps improve health care access and quality for
approximately 150,000 Washington citizens by developing innovative care
management programs and services. Members are assured care that is not
only accessible, but also accountable, comprehensive, integrated and
patient-centered. Amerigroup Washington provides ongoing community
relations and outreach to encourage members to become active
participants in their health care. Through health education programs,
members are empowered to choose and sustain a healthy lifestyle.
About Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission:
Since 1932, Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission has been dedicated to
serving, rescuing and transforming those in greatest need through the
grace of Jesus Christ. The private organization partners with
individuals, churches, other organizations and the local government to
awaken hope in the hearts of people overcome with poverty and
homelessness. Its programs address issues of hunger, homelessness,
poverty, high risk youth, and addiction, providing emergency care and
long-term recovery services to transform lives and transform our city.
For more information, visit www.ugm.org
or follow the Mission on Twitter,
Facebook
or Instagram.
Contacts
Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission
Torie Rynning
Public Relations
Manager
trynning@ugm.org
206-353-9454
or
Amerigroup
Olga
Gallardo
Director of Public Relations
olga.gallardo@anthem.com
818-201-5682
