Organization designs trailer to offer free showers to homeless population

The lingering homeless population in Colorado Springs has many organizations working to help them.

Now the Salvation Army and the organization Showered with Love are offering a safe place to shower.

The trailer has more than meets the eye, it’s equipped with three bathrooms, including showers and toilets.

It’s all aimed to help people like Jesus Martinez, down on their luck but looking for a job.

“I imagine in unfortunately in the situation i’m in, I imagine one day I may need a shower for a job interview or whatever and this is a perfect place to come to,” he said.

You may be asking yourself how it works. The trailer is open to anyone in need and uses propane to heat the water and electricity run everything else.

But for a community dealing with what some may consider an overwhelming number of people living on the street, could this be considered enabling them?

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers says he does have some concerns.

“I would not favor it being used to facilitate homeless camping like moving it up along the creeks and all that, that’s what we’re trying to discourage,” he said.

The January Point in Time survey found there were 1,551 homeless people in shelters and on the streets.

Kelly Terrien, the woman who came up the hygiene unit, says she wants those people to feel dignified.

She says the trailer won’t be put along the creeks and instead will be placed at shelters around the area and other places in the city.

“It’s obviously not a solution for homelessness but there are a lot of people who don’t have access to showers and toilet facilities,” she said.

By next year, the hygiene unit won’t be the only resource for the homeless. Coordinators for Colorado Springs say there are plans to open two new affordable housing projects.

The trailer will also be used during natural disasters like fires, floods and more.