At ShowerUp, our mission is to build relationships, restore hope and dignity, and show the love of God to those in need by providing them with shower services and personal care.
We believe that everyone is human. Those experiencing homelessness oftentimes get treated as less than human, and we want to tear down that misconception. Keep reading below to learn more about what we do here at ShowerUp, and also learn more about homeless communities and common misconceptions. If you want to work with us, get involved today!
ShowerUp serves those experiencing homelessness and anyone in need by providing mobile showers, laundry, hygiene resources, and personal care. ShowerUp is a non-profit, 501c3 charity. We are supported through the gifts and donations of individuals, families, businesses, churches, and anyone who wants to Shower Grace, Hope, and Love.
Bringing ShowerUp to a new city is a big project that involves a local point person/people who work with us to determine if ShowerUp is a good fit for the city and the circumstances and what resources are available to launch in a new city. We receive dozens of requests each month for ShowerUp to expand. We are grateful for passionate people who reach out to us to see if we can help in their community.
ShowerUp chooses the locations based off of several criteria including: need, donor support, potential volunteer support, current local outreach, collaboration with other nonprofits, city leadership relationships, and ability to sustain operations. The costs for expansion will be raised in cooperation with the local community to cover the costs of equipment, operations, staffing, etc.
Inside the ShowerUp mobile shower units, guests will find private, comfortable “shower suites” with a clean shower and sink with plenty of hot water and whatever they need to Shower Up!
Homelessness happens when people are without a permanent residence, such as a house or an apartment. People who are homeless are often unable to acquire or maintain adequate housing, which will perpetuate homelessness in the long-run.
The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty reports that the top causes of homelessness among families were: (1) lack of affordable housing, (2) unemployment, (3) poverty, and (4) low wages, in that order. The inadequate supply of affordable housing perpetuates housing instability and homelessness.
Friends experiencing homelessness across the nation find themselves excluded from the workforce when the potential employer finds their address or lacks one. Even still, statistically nearly 40% of these friends have at least one job. Above all, there is a widely prevalent belief in our society that homeless people have a substance addiction, criminal backgrounds, and a lack of desire to make a living. Often, that is not the case.
