Our team and I help people who are living on the margins of life who are our homeless, hungry or lonely neighbors.
Because of this, I get this particular question a lot: “Hi, Jim, what do the homeless do for ‘restroom’ facilities? Do they need toilet paper?”
I say, “Thanks so much for your caring and thoughtful question. Toilet paper is not what they ask for. But they do constantly ask for baby wipes, the kind that have no additional scents or fragrances. Just plain, unscented baby wipes. These are the best for avoiding skin inflammations.”
It is sad for our team and I to see what is happening with the homeless.
At our place at The Shepherd’s Office in Georgetown, we have one toilet, in a small spot next to the hot water heater. It is a tight spot to turn around in there. Our homeless guests use that toilet at certain times each day. To them, it is a blessing.
But outside in the larger community, the homeless are not welcome at places that have larger public bathrooms. Once they are identified at a store as “being homeless,” they are discouraged from even being near the business location. And if they go inside, they must buy something in order to use the bathroom, and many times, they don’t have any money at all. And when they are discovered as being “homeless and destitute,” the homeless are telling me that they are no longer welcome.
But as you know, when Mother Nature calls, she calls loudly. Then, they must find a private spot somewhere outdoors behind bushes, shrubs or trees and do “their business.”
Our team and I feel especially sad for the ladies in this situation. And toilet paper is not what they need. Instead, they need lots of baby wipes and little trash bags, so they can clean themselves up and the outside area up afterwards. They don’t like leaving behind any human waste, but when they don’t have any way to clean up, they have no choice but to leave it behind. So, yes, baby wipes are very, very important to them. Many carry wipes in their backpacks, and we give out baby wipes constantly, which are expensive compared to toilet paper.
Let’s show basic human compassion and provide a safe place for the homeless to use the bathroom when needed. This is very basic human dignity and respect.
And you ask about taking a shower? Ask a homeless person this question, and they will say, “Taking a shower somewhere is like going to the moon and back. It is very rare.”
This is a sad report, I know. But again, thanks for your caring and compassionate question. By the way, we need baby wipes, bottled water, flashlights and batteries and bug spray!
Jim Martin
Director, The Shepherd’s Office
Georgetown
