COVID-19: Northern Santa Barbara County gets first mobile shower unit to help homeless

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak United Way is providing Northern Santa Barbara County with its first-ever mobile shower to help the homeless in the area.

Several churches which provided shower services for the homeless have shut the facilities down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dorothy Mogavero with United Way said the purchase of the unit couldn’t happen at a better time.

"This is coming out an excellent time to virus has really taken our existing shower down so that they are no longer operating right now," said Mogavero.

Up until the virus outbreak, several churches including the Pacific Christian center offered showering services to the homeless.

Organizers hope it will help minimize the spread of coronavirus in the homeless community by keeping more people clean.

Several agencies including Jan Pro, and the Central Coast Rescue Mission are working with United Way to get this mobile unit operational.

"We will be providing staffing will be providing volunteers needed and supplies to make sure that this outreach goes out to as many people as possible throughout our city," said Jon Bronkowski with the Central Coast Rescue Mission.

"My hope is that will be able to provide a safe place for people to shower and to clean while they’re on the streets," said Greg Ibsen with Jan Pro.

Jan Pro will provide overall maintenance of the showers, making sure it’s clean and disinfected on a regular basis.

"We are excited as a church to partner with United Way and other churches in our community and this is a wonderful collaborative opportunity to bless the homeless and to serve those who are less fortunate," said pastor Loren Hicks with the Pacific Christian Center.

United Way is finalizing operational details and they expect do you need to be up and running within ten days.