H4A is lighting a fire to build a brighter 2021
Beloved Friends:
On December 15th, H4A opened the doors to our Hygiene Hub! A marvelous menagerie of elected, activist, non-profit, faith, and community partners came out in the rain to cheer us on. Most importantly, we got to celebrate the fruits of 2 years of planning and debate, training and refinement with our houseless collaborators from the St Francis, Sisters of the Road, and C3PO communities.
As Commissioner Meieran said that day in the rainy parking lot, our bright little hub stands as proof of what we can “accomplish when we get together, and work with people who are most impacted by our different and ineffective systems and figure out what people genuinely need and want.” One easy visit to the Hub for foot care can circumvent a visit to the ER and often loss of limbs. As Commissioner Eudaly so passionately put it: “It shouldn’t be this hard to do something this essential.” We agree. Our purpose is to pave the way to making it easier.
Two weeks into the world of Hub we are celebrating
the delight people experience after they first hot shower in six or more months and perhaps
the joy derived from sharing the rare gifts of warmth, beauty, community, and conversation in a moment when most places are shuttered to our unsheltered friends.
We are also learning and growing. So far, we know we need to
increase shower water tank deliveries from every 4 to every 2 days
add more solar battery and panel capacity in order to offer the full measure of hot water, lighting, warmth, and hospitality to which we aspire
train additional staff and volunteers to increase our onsite presence from 2 to 3 to adequately cover our health pod needs.
add inventory helpers and laundry fairies to our volunteer squad
add frequently requested items like condoms and cocoa/shea butter
* * *
As we enter this darkest phase of the Pandemic, where our unsheltered community members experience unprecedented isolation and deprivation, we ask very if you might consider becoming a monthly sponsor.
Just 15 dollars a month plus taxes = an additional hour of paid staff time for our amazing unsheltered crew and added hour shower and wound care time for our dear patrons!!!
With mad amounts of love, gratitude, and solidarity
Sandra Comstock, Executive Director
and the entire H4A crew!
