In addition to the creation of new 24/7 shelters with access to hygiene services and places for individuals experiencing homelessness to stay who have and are recovering from COVID-19, the City of Seattle announced yesterday the continued expansion of hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness. Building on the previously announced resources, eight new hygiene stations will be deployed and two hygiene trailers will be positioned in areas where individuals experiencing homelessness can be best served. 
In addition to the creation of new 24/7 shelters with access to hygiene services and places for individuals experiencing homelessness to stay who have and are recovering from COVID-19, the City of Seattle announced yesterday the continued expansion of hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness. Building on the previously announced resources, eight new hygiene stations will be deployed and two hygiene trailers will be positioned in areas where individuals experiencing homelessness can be best served.
Seattle Parks and Recreation and Seattle Public Utilities have done a comprehensive inventory of available facilities currently open. At this time, no restroom facilities will be closed during this weekend’s large park closures. In recent weeks, the City has taken several steps to increase access to hygiene facilities to reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially with the closure of additional businesses. Seattle Public Utilities will provide 16 new portable toilets and 8 new hand washing stations.
The new resources will supplement previously announced resources:
- There are open hygiene locations in parks. As of April 8, there are 138 locations with a total of 199 hygiene facilities (comfort stations and sanicans) located in 114 parks and recreation locations across the city. There are 78 facilities open 24/7, including 75 sanicans and portable restrooms. At any given time, Parks hygiene facilities may be temporarily closed for construction, maintenance, vandalism, or cleaning). Four community centers are open for showers;
- Seattle Public Utilities is operating six Hygiene stations, with 14 sanicans and six handwashing sinks that also operate 24/7;
- Twelve day centers; and
- Bathrooms at facilities at City Hall and Seattle Center.
From the beginning of this unprecedented crisis, we have been focused on providing the resources necessary to keep our most vulnerable neighbors safe. Over the past month, the City and County have committed unprecedented new investments for individuals experiencing homelessness including new resources for hygiene, shelter and places for individuals to isolate, quarantine, or recover from COVID-19. I am grateful for the frontline service providers and City workers who are tirelessly working to procure new facilities, staff our shelters, conduct outreach to the most vulnerable, and clean these facilities. We will continue to build on our current resources to help our most vulnerable but need the support of our state and federal governments to provide the funding, staffing and resources necessary to support individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For nearly a month, I have been asking for more personnel and support – our City workers alone can’t staff and support the new facilities that we need to address the crisis.
Mayor Jenny A. Durkan
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will work with Public Health – Seattle & King County and other City departments to determine locations for the new facilities. Similar to those recently deployed, the new stations will be open 24/7 and serviced daily, with waste removal, needle disposal, and supplemental cleaning.
Two hygiene trailers will be located near Chief Seattle Club in Pioneer Square and Seattle Center to complement the expansion. The Seattle Center location will support the shelters at the Fisher Pavilion and Exhibition Hall. Trailers contain showers, toilets and hand washing stations. The facilities will be staffed by a City-contracted service provider and daily maintenance provided per guidance of public health officials. Shower programs at Delridge, Green Lake, Meadowbrook, and Rainier community centers also remain open to the public.
Where to get the most up-to-date public health information
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOH, and PHSKC have issued specific guidance to help communities and businesses prepare. You can find guidance for the general public, schools, workplaces and employers, travelers and health care professionals as well as a more detailed Q&A here.
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), CDC
- Novel Coronavirus Outbreak 2020, Washington State Dept. of Health
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Public Health – Seattle & King County