Lack Of Bathrooms For Seattle's Homeless Counter To U.N. Standard

SEATTLE, WA - The United Nations standard for refugee camps is to have one toilet for every 20 people. But for the thousands of people living unsheltered on Seattle's streets, there are only six city-operated public restrooms available 24-7.

That's according to a report presented Tuesday to a City Council committee by the Seattle City Auditor, which warns that the lack of access to public restrooms for the homeless is putting public health and safety at risk. Going by the U.N. standard, which has also been used by the city of Los Angeles in Skid Row, Seattle would need to have about 224 public toilets.

"[D]uring our field observations, we found significant evidence of open urination and defecation in and around unsanctioned encampments. This poses risks to public health and the environment. Moreover, research has found that open urination and defecation can erode an unsheltered individual’s sense of dignity and self-agency," the auditor's report says.

The report also highlighted that city-run public bathrooms available now are often dangerous and unhygienic. For example: A port-a-potty at the Lake City Mini Park was filthy, went uncleaned for 10 days, and lacked a sharps container for syringes. But the auditor also said that vendors sometimes can't clean toilets or restock supplies.

"[The] vendor indicated that 'missed service dates are the result of individuals who use the toilet as a place to stay/sleep not being willing to vacate the unit so that service can happen,'" the report says. "The vendor also indicated that they have had challenges with blood spray in these units related to IV drug use."

The auditor also found inconsistencies at city-run shower facilities for the homeless. The city has 17 showers available that are open at various times. Some sites don't advertise that showers are available, and towels and toiletries are intermittent. Some sites, like the one at Green Lake, charge 50 cents per towel, the Rainier Community Center doesn't offer towels at all.

"It seems essential to provide towels as part of a drop-in shower service for unsheltered individuals. This need was apparent to the staff from the Miller Community Center, who collected towels from family and friends to offer to drop-in shower clients; the towels are laundered on site. Miller staff have also collected a large supply of donated toiletries that they offer to drop-in shower clients. The Miller Community Center reflects a standard of care that could be adopted by all the City’s drop in shower sites," the report says.

To improve hygiene services for the homeless, the auditor several key recommendations. One is to consider using the "pit stop" model used by San Francisco, which provides branded shower and waste disposal (including pet waste) services for the homeless in priority areas. The auditor also recommended the city implement a "standard of care" for all drop-in facilities - like signs advertising shower availability, and providing toiletries.

Read the Seattle City Auditor's full report here.