Friday, May 17, 2024
In his 50 professional years, Tumbleweed has interviewed some true Texas characters and assembled the largest private collection of oral history in the United States. He writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column and teaches broadcasting at the university level.
Homeless people in Houston can take hot 20-minute showers in mobile shower stalls provided by a group called Moving Waters.
“We’re providing 150 showers a week,” said Dr. Jennifer Park, who started the nonprofit group two years ago. “In 2021 we provided 400 showers. In 2022 we provided nearly 4,000.”
Right now, Moving Waters has two shower trailers, each pulled by a truck. One trailer has three shower stalls, the other has four.
“In each stall there is a shower, a toilet, a sink, and it’s all private,” Park said. “Each stall has its own lock. These people don’t get much privacy. We don’t get hung up on their living situation. We want to hear what team they’re rooting for, what books they’re reading, what music they like. We focus on the humanity of it.”
They go to five locations in Houston.
“Our partner locations let us hook up to their water and electricity,” Park said. “We stay at each location for four hours on different days. Some people use the showers twice a week.”
Each trailer is equipped with large hot water heaters. Moving Waters teams up with other organizations.
“Not only do we provide showers, but we also provide underwear, socks and hygiene items,” Park said. “Some locations provide food and medical help, even lodging in some cases. Some of our volunteers give haircuts.”
Jennifer said that when a person uses the showers for the first time, they come in looking down, feeling sort of ashamed to be there. But things change after a shower.
“When they emerge, they are more upright,” she said. “There’s a smile, a spring in their step. They feel much more confident. They come out and tell us they’ve got a job interview or they’re going to work.”
Showers are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use.
“The majority of our guests are men,” Park noted. “I would say 85 to 90 percent of people using the showers are men. The average age is between 40 and 50.”
Clean washcloths, towels, soap, shampoo, combs, and razors are in each stall. The group has only one full-time employee but lots of volunteers.
“It’s been really cool to see everything all come together, see all the different groups get involved,” Park stated. “We’ve had so much support from the city and county. They know we’re doing them a favor and making their jobs a lot easier. We’re taking away some of their workload because the number of homeless is increasing.”
Park said she hopes her group is able to add one new truck and trailer a year to the fleet. The website is movingwaters-houston.org.
