Cloud Covered Streets Launches Mobile Showers & Laundry for Tucson’s Homeless After Permit Battle

Sam Nagy, Tucson’s operations manager for Cloud Covered Streets, believes that a shower and a haircut can significantly impact those experiencing homelessness. His organization operates a mobile trailer that provides showers, haircuts, and laundry services across the city, assisting individuals in need.

Nagy draws from personal experience, having lived unhoused in the early 2000s due to addiction. He asserts that access to hygiene facilities would have drastically changed his life during that period. “Having a place to regularly shower and clean up could have made a world of difference,” he reflected. Frequenting different shelters while battling addiction made it challenging for him to maintain hygiene.

Currently operational in locations such as Phoenix and Fort Worth, the Tucson version of the trailer faced delays before its launch due to a permit issue. City officials expressed concerns regarding the disposal of gray water, even though it is legal on private property. After a tense meeting with the Department of Transportation and a last-minute inspection, the trailer received approval to commence operations.

“We encountered significant hurdles, but today we finally got the green light,” Nagy stated. The inaugural event took place outside Hope City Church, where the trailer provided multiple showers, laundry facilities, and fresh clothing. Nagy plans to eventually include licensed cosmetologists for haircuts. Nonprofit representatives helped attendees secure identification for job applications while medical volunteers offered free COVID-19 testing and first aid.

At the event, Anna Bennett operated her food truck, serving warm meals to participants. One of them, Mike Pethe, who recently lost his housing, secured a temporary bed in a Primavera Foundation shelter after connecting with resources at the event. “I don’t want to be out there in the dirt,” Pethe expressed.

According to a January report, the number of residents experiencing homelessness in Tucson has surged by 52 percent since 2018. The unsheltered population—those living on the streets or in their vehicles—has increased by a staggering 253 percent within the same timeframe.

Volunteers at the launch event, including nurse Sue Walley and unhoused individual KJ Robles, expressed their enthusiasm for the new service. Robles recently moved into a camper and struggles with accessing adequate water supply for showers. Her commitment to helping others stems from her personal situation; she reached out to Nagy to volunteer.

“This means a lot to me,” Robles stated, hoping the trailer could reach those in remote areas where many live without consistent access to such services.

Walley highlighted the challenges faced by unhoused individuals in finding bathrooms or shower facilities, noting the high cost of alternatives. “Pilot charges $18 to take a shower. For some of these people, it may take multiple days to gather that amount,” she remarked.

Another volunteer, Lisa Holly, dedicated her day to support Cloud Covered Streets. With a family member struggling with similar issues, she feels compelled to help others facing hardship, hoping that one day, he might benefit from the services provided by the trailer.

The trailer’s locations, which shift several times a week, can be found on Cloud Covered Streets’ website and Instagram. This initiative represents a critical step towards addressing the growing homelessness crisis in Tucson.