CP11 - Hygiene and sanitation needs of people experiencing homelessness in Portland, OR

Poster Type: Innovation

Primary Funding Source: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

Category: A. T. Still University

Issue or Challenge: Many urban cities across the United States have a large homeless population whose basic needs have yet to be fully met. As an initial step to help curb this issue, the purpose of this community project was to assess the overall health and hygiene needs of various homeless communities throughout Portland, Oregon, evaluate the extent to which their needs were already being met, and utilize our resources to supplement unmet needs as we found necessary.

Description of Innovation: We partnered with two local organizations that serve individuals experiencing homelessness – St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and Clackamas Service Center. At both sites, health and hygiene products were distributed in the dining hall for two hours on one day during the first week of March 2020 (10am-12pm at Clackamas Service Center and 2-4pm at St. Francis of Assisi). Participants could voluntarily approach us and select any of the available items they desired. We would then package the selected items into a plastic bag. Options included flashlights and batteries (as a set), socks, hand sanitizers, baby wipes, petroleum jelly, beanies, hand warmers, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, thermal blankets, sharpies, and nail clippers to each site. Participants were only allowed up to one of each item and could only go through the line once. We started with 30 of each item and recorded our remaining inventory after our distribution period. Distribution rates were calculated between the two sites based on the total number of each item given out relative to the total number of participants. The data collected was analyzed using a two-sample test of proportions with the software STATA.

Impact or Result: A total of 47 individuals between two sites participated and received the products provided as part of this project (n=30, n=17). Overall, the top 5 most distributed items were flashlights and batteries, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, socks, and beanies in that order. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) in distribution rates of items between both sites except for baby wipes (p=0.012). Flashlights were taken by all but one participant in the study. The utility of flashlights as a tool for safety and survival at night may explain this finding. Socks and beanies may have been popular choices because of the colder weather during winter in Portland, Oregon and the relative lack of warm clothing provided to homeless individuals. Hand sanitizer and baby wipes may have been frequently chosen because they could clean and disinfect participants’ hands and other body parts when a sink or washroom is unavailable to them.

Replicating this Innovation: The most difficult aspects of this innovation are fundraising and effectively reaching out to the target population. Fundraising could take various forms depending on an organization’s resources. Reaching out may include partnering with other local or government organizations to spread the word of a new service for individuals experiencing homelessness. A plan should be developed to distribute items equitably to prevent animosity among individuals.

As a useful reference, we found flashlights to be the most needed object followed by baby wipes, hand sanitizers, socks, beanies, hand warmers, petroleum jelly, deodorant, toothbrushes, thermal blankets, sharpies, and nail clippers in that order.

Author(s):

Aryan Sharif, OMS Student, A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona