Restoring Dignity, Health, and Confidence—One Shower at a Time

For youth experiencing homelessness, couch surfing, housing instability, or difficult family circumstances, access to a safe and private shower is often something many take for granted. Yet maintaining personal hygiene is essential for physical health, emotional well-being, school attendance, employment opportunities, and self-confidence.

The UCEMS Shower & Hygiene Center will provide a clean, safe, and welcoming environment where youth can shower with dignity and privacy. Every individual who uses the facility will receive access to essential hygiene items, including shampoo, soap, a hand towel, washcloth, and bath towel. To help youth keep their personal items organized, each participant will also receive a small hygiene tote or carrying container for their shower supplies.

To promote cleanliness and health, participants will be provided with a freshly laundered hand towel, washcloth, and bath towel each time they visit the facility. Our goal is to remove barriers that prevent young people from feeling their best and to ensure they have access to the basic necessities needed to succeed in school, employment, and everyday life.

In addition, UCEMS plans to install secure personal lockers within the hygiene area. These lockers will provide youth with a safe place to store personal belongings, important documents, hygiene supplies, and other essential items between visits. For many young people experiencing housing instability, having a secure place to keep their belongings can provide peace of mind, reduce the risk of loss or theft, and create a greater sense of stability and security.

At UCEMS, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to feel clean, confident, and cared for. The Shower & Hygiene Center is more than a place to bathe—it is a place where dignity is restored, health is supported, and hope is renewed. By combining access to showers, hygiene supplies, fresh towels, and secure storage, we are helping youth take important steps toward stability, independence, and a brighter future.

Coming Winter 2026