On a scorching mid-morning where temperatures climbed over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Phillip rode his e-bike into The Wash House, a unique initiative in Portland aimed at helping those without permanent shelter.
Tethered to the rack of his e-bike was a plastic bag filled with laundry, which he would have cleaned for free by the staff at The Wash House.
“I heard about it through friends,” Phillip shared. “They said that they were able to get their laundry washed and get it back the same day most of the time.”
With around 14,400 people experiencing homelessness in Portland, the basic need for clean clothing has become increasingly pressing, especially during the sweltering summer heat.
“The importance of socks in this heat is very, very nice,” Phillip continued. “Just having socks and underwear — clean clothes in general. It’s nice not to stink, ya know?”
Katie Kitchens, who serves as The Wash House lead, handed Phillip a large blue mesh bag for his laundry, initiating the process by weighing the bag, tagging it with a number, and placing it into one of the ten Speed Queen washing machines available on-site.
“And Phillip puts his own detergent in there so I don’t have to use ours,” Kitchens noted. “We have a couple people that come in and do that because that’s just their preference.”
Unlike more informal laundry services provided by churches, The Wash House offers a structured but flexible drop-off service. This allows patrons to avoid waiting in laundromats while ensuring that they can access clean clothes promptly.
Since its opening less than a year ago, The Wash House has completed the remarkable task of washing five tons of community laundry.
However, it’s not just clothing that’s being cleaned. Nic Boehm, who oversees operations at The Wash House, recounted a story about a unique request: “I had a guy bring in — it was almost too big for our laundry — a big gnarly sleeping bag that he needed washed.”
The sleeping bag, while in good physical condition, had developed mold, and the man needed it cleaned as a cold front was approaching.
In addition to clothes, The Wash House also washes donated and abandoned textiles, which they clean, repair, and redistribute through their clothing closet or via partnerships with organizations like Hygiene for All, Rose Haven’s women’s shelter, and Blanche House.
“This is usable stuff,” Boehm stated. “I would say better than 95% of what is reclaimed by my teams out in the street discarded, after a single wash, could be at the very worst on the rack at Goodwill.”
The scale of The Wash House’s operations is impressive; they clean over 10,000 pounds of shelter bedding each month. This service is a critical component of the city’s broader strategy to combat unsheltered homelessness, as Boehm explained: “Overnight shelters are very important to the city’s plan right now.”
The Wash House functionally operates as a part of the Ground Score Association, a nonprofit organization that engages in waste picking. This work involves collecting reusable and recyclable materials from the environment, which can range from cans to furniture.
“Waste picking is work. It’s hard work and I don’t just mean hard work and that it’s physically difficult,” Boehm remarked.
He emphasized that for waste pickers, making a living often requires strategic thinking to navigate economic realities: “In order to make enough money to live, to just get by on the meagerest amounts, you’re going to need to have a business strategy and you’re going to have to execute it well.”
Over 90% of Ground Score’s workforce consists of individuals who are or have previously been unhoused. This shared experience equips them with unique insights into the needs of their community, making them effective in their roles.
“I’m not talking about what people would call unskilled labor, or labor that requires no knowledge or previously attained skills,” Boehm explained. “These people have skills and it makes them better at their jobs and makes us more effective as an organization, and we reward that through pay.”
The compensation for workers can range from $20 to $29 per hour, which is significantly higher than Portland’s minimum wage. Funding for Ground Score comes from various sources including government and private contracts, grants, and donations.
Initially, The Wash House was funded by the City of Portland’s Impact Reduction Program, but Boehm noted that there is currently no ongoing funding for this essential community service.
“We received a grant for 94K from the City of Portland, but when that money is spent, that program is unfunded,” he stated.
While laundry services may not draw as much public attention as overnight shelters or free meal programs, Boehm insists they are equally vital to the community.
“We’re trying to make this something that is a resource for years and years to come,” he concluded.
image source from：opb
