News
STP Creates New Guide to Local Healthcare Access
Shower the People has just created a new guide to Health and Medical Care Resources in San Luis Obispo and the Five Cities Area especially designed for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The guide carefully explains the helpful (but sometimes confusing) array of local healthcare resources, giving important details about each one (like whether you must have or must not have health insurance to access it, who is eligible, whether the resource is available on a walk-in basis or if it requires an appointment or referral, its location, and how to access it). You can read the guide on-line at showerthepeopleslo.org/health-and-medical-care-resources.
25,000 showers and counting: Local nonprofit provides mobile showers to those in need
“On the second Sunday of each month, community organizations transform the alley behind the San Luis Obispo Library into a hygiene station, hair salon and health clinic, courtesy of the local nonprofit, Shower the People,” begins an article in the Mustang News of 6 March 2025. “Since its founding in 2017, Shower the People has provided over 25,000 showers across San Luis Obispo through their portable trailer, equipped with three private bathrooms.”
No-Cook Food Bags
The SLO Food Bank’s No-Cook Bags are packages of food curated to meet the dietary needs and lifestyle of people experiencing homelessness. They contain food that is nutritious and does not require heat or appliances to prepare. Last year, the SLO Food Bank packed and distributed more than 30,400 No-Cook Bags. Shower the People’s Thursday shower shift is one of the sites where these food bags are distributed, thanks to Shower the People volunteers.
SLO Board of Supervisors Recognizes Outgoing Shower the People General Manager Gwen Watkins
“Gwen Watkins has demonstrated outstanding and unselfish service to the communities of San Luis Obispo county by contributing extensively through her exceptional generosity in volunteerism and leadership,” begins a resolution passed by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on December 17th. “She, as founder, president, and general manager of Shower of the People, has ensured that those in need have access to a free, hot shower, five days a week.… Her compassion, generosity, and humble leadership have guided the efforts of the all-volunteer run organization since its founding in 2017.” Watkins is retiring from her position as Shower the People General Manager at the end of 2024.
Free Health Clinic
Vituity Cares offers a free health clinic each month alongside our showers at the downtown SLO library. In cooperation with the Access Support Network and WashMeGo, the clinic offers diagnosis, treatment, testing, immunizations, prescriptions, haircuts, and even lunch. In 2024 they served 340 guests at our shower site, administering 120 medical exams and 70 vaccinations.
Veterans Stand Down
Shower the People brought our shower trailer to the annual Veterans Stand Down, held on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Santa Maria Fairpark in Santa Maria. We’ve offered showers at every Stand Down since 2017.