Disposable Personal Toilets for the Unhoused
Donation protected
Help us raise $1200 for a pilot program to see if personal disposable toilet kits work for our unhoused neighbors without access to toilet facilities. We will buy a case of 350 Biffy bags and shower/potty chairs for those who can’t squat to use them. We will distribute the bags and other hygiene supplies at weekly survival meet-ups at Unity Park and at the encampment currently located at 22nd and Carlson. We seek to supply at least 10 people on a weekly basis for three consecutive weeks and conduct follow-up interviews with them about how they feel about using the bags, disposing of them, and what other approaches, supplies or tweaks might work better.
In the Winter of 2016-2017, California saw a major outbreak of Hepatitis A among residents of homeless encampments in San Diego, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles and Monterey Counties. 704 cases were identified, 461 people were hospitalized, and21 people died as a result . This was directly related to the lack of adequate human waste management.
It’s less than a band-aid on a major hemorrhage, but we are piloting an individual approach to addressing human waste management. These bags catch urine and feces and add a powder which turns the waste into a non-spillable solid and introduces enzymes to begin the biodegrading process. Within minutes the waste is safe for our general garbage disposal stream and is sealed into a tear proof, smell proof mylar bag. Each kit also contains toilet paper and a personal wipe.
While we work on real solutions and dignified housing for all, finding interim fixes to the human waste problem can be difficult. Port-a-potties and other collective solutions are impossible to maintain in environments where users have no cleaning supplies or even water faucets. They can become dangerous places for women and other vulnerable groups if left unsupervised at night.
I know it's hard to get excited about handing someone a plastic bag to poop in when they need so much more, but this is a first and basic step in facing and addressing the realities of daily life for our unhoused neighbors.
We will report back here and elsewhere regarding the results of the pilot, and if successful, we will seek regular funding streams to continue and expand the program.
In the Winter of 2016-2017, California saw a major outbreak of Hepatitis A among residents of homeless encampments in San Diego, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles and Monterey Counties. 704 cases were identified, 461 people were hospitalized, and21 people died as a result . This was directly related to the lack of adequate human waste management.
It’s less than a band-aid on a major hemorrhage, but we are piloting an individual approach to addressing human waste management. These bags catch urine and feces and add a powder which turns the waste into a non-spillable solid and introduces enzymes to begin the biodegrading process. Within minutes the waste is safe for our general garbage disposal stream and is sealed into a tear proof, smell proof mylar bag. Each kit also contains toilet paper and a personal wipe.
While we work on real solutions and dignified housing for all, finding interim fixes to the human waste problem can be difficult. Port-a-potties and other collective solutions are impossible to maintain in environments where users have no cleaning supplies or even water faucets. They can become dangerous places for women and other vulnerable groups if left unsupervised at night.
I know it's hard to get excited about handing someone a plastic bag to poop in when they need so much more, but this is a first and basic step in facing and addressing the realities of daily life for our unhoused neighbors.
We will report back here and elsewhere regarding the results of the pilot, and if successful, we will seek regular funding streams to continue and expand the program.
Fundraising team: Richmond Street Survival Meet-ups (4)
Jan Gilbrecht
Organizer
Richmond, CA
Daniel Barth
Team member
melissa ober
Team member
Christina Redse
Team member
