Inside Refresh Lancaster, people experiencing homelessness can take a hot shower, receive clean clothes, access wound care and speak with trained medical profes
Inside Refresh Lancaster, people experiencing homelessness can take a hot shower, receive clean clothes, access wound care and speak with trained medical professionals - all free of charge.
, people experiencing homelessness can take a hot shower, receive clean clothes, access wound care and speak with trained medical professionals - all free of charge. Now, the future of that service is uncertain. Without additional funding, the county’s only mobile hygiene unit could shut down by the end of June, according to Lancaster EMS.
“We’re providing hygiene, and hygiene is healthcare,” Frankie Saez, community paramedicine supervisor for Lancaster EMS, said. The program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued operating across Lancaster County. The trailer includes two shower stalls, hygiene products, clothing and a medical office space. Every staff member working on the unit is trained as an EMT or paramedic, allowing them to provide care beyond basic hygiene services.
“I do also think that we provide dignity,” Alexa Morales, an EMT and trailer attendant, said. “I think it’s a right that everybody should have. And I want to keep providing that to people. ”According to organizers, the program has recorded more than 4,500 service uses and nearly 1,000 medical appointments since its launch.
While that number is huge, Morales mentioned that she’s on a first name basis with all of her regulars.
“When they get more comfortable with us, they tell us about their plans, what they’ve been up to,” she said. “And eventually, people who haven’t had healthcare in years have us as a trusted source. " Morales described having people come in before job interviews, providing them with some soap and hygiene - things that could have been barriers for employment. Morales said one patient came in and described symptoms that she took seriously.
It lead to more bloodwork, and eventually, a cancer diagnosis.
“Because of his comfortability coming to us and the flexibility of our program, he was able to get a diagnosis and get treatment,” she said. “He was also able to get off the streets for that treatment, and I believe he’s doing well. ”Officials say the Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition cut $157,000 in funding, while AmeriHealth Caritas reduced support by another $150,000 - leaving the program with a deficit of more than $300,000.
Organizers say they need to raise at least $100,000 by the end of June to continue operating through the end of the year. Refresh Lancaster has made a measurable impact on the lives of those we serve. Not only for basic hygiene, but in providing many with the only medical care they have throughout the year. Without renewed financial support, we may be forced to bring this vital work to an end.
The statement warns that limited access to hygiene can quickly spiral into bigger health risks, including infections, illness and increased spread of disease. It also notes the broader impact on mental health and dignity for people living without stable housing. Rather than announcing an immediate closure, organizers are calling the situation a “call to action” - urging local governments, businesses, nonprofits and residents to step in and help sustain the program.
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