County commissioners to hear presentation on mobile hygiene units

Some Bernalillo County residents may take handwashing, showers and other personal hygiene actions for granted.

But those without permanent or reliable housing don’t have as many opportunities to keep up with personal hygiene and therefore can be at risk for a variety of health issues.

Some say the answer might be as simple as a truck trailer with showers, parked at a convenient location. Organizations in cities including 

Santa Fe, Los Angeles and Seattle have tried them, and some Bernalillo County officials want to see if those options could work here.

The county’s Behavioral Health Initiative will make a presentation at Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, outlining one way to address that concern.

Staff will discuss the scourge of housing insecurity, mobile hygiene units as a tool for helping those experiencing housing insecurity and ways the county can invest in a solution.

They say recommended features for local mobile units could include:

• Private stalls with shower, toilet and sink access.

• One stall that meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and has a hydraulic lift for easy accessibility.

• Containers for safe needle disposal.
• Baby changing stations.
• Hygiene kits and/or product dispensers and towels.
• Heating and cooling systems.
• Connections to providers of other services to unhoused people.

The agenda for the regular meeting says an estimated 20,000 people in New Mexico are without secure housing, and that a Jan. 29 count found 2,740 people in Albuquerque faced housing insecurity.

According to the agenda, lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene exacerbates issues facing vulnerable populations. 

Authors of the presentation say lack of access to water, sanitation, and hygiene can hinder those trying to make the transition to secure housing,

contribute to mental health concerns and ultimately lead to higher chances of

long-term housing insecurity.