SF’s 15 New Staffed Public Toilets and Hand-Washing Stations
Mayor London Breed Announces Rollout Of New Staffed Public Toilets And Hand-Washing Stations In High-Need Neighborhoods
Bathroom access expanded for vulnerable populations; monitors on site to keep the temporary facilities clean and safe.
Mayor London N. Breed and Acting Public Works Director Alaric Degrafinried on April 7 announced the first deployment of a series of new portable toilets and hand-washing stations at 15 high-need locations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The portable toilets, available for use 24 hours a day, will be staffed to deter vandalism and unwanted activities. They also will be serviced daily. Read the full press release
SF’s 15 Toilets and Hand Washing Stations
The first portable toilets and hand-washing stations are in the Tenderloin, South of Market, Bayview-Hunters Point, Castro, and Mission neighborhoods. The initial five will be in place, Wednesday, April 8, with all 15 up and running by early next week.
The specific locations are listed below, and additional sites will be added soon.
- Willow/Polk
- Leavenworth/Turk
- O’Farrell/Taylor
- 139 Welsh
- Natoma/Sixth Street
- 2111 Jennings
- 200 Napoleon
- Selby/Evans
- Selby McKinnon
- 14th Street/Stevenson
- 15th Street/Julian
- Market and 16th Street
- 23rd Street/Folsom
- Thomas/Hawes
- 245 Bayshore
The Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing recommended high-need locations for the relief stations. San Francisco Public Works then refined the list, looking at factors such as proximity to existing public toilets, street slope, and available space.
The City has issued a grant to Urban Alchemy, a nonprofit workforce development program, to staff the toilets. The organization currently provides attendants for Public Works’ existing Pit Stop public toilet program, which has 24 locations in 13 neighborhoods. These additional COVID-19 response portable toilets and hand-washing stations augment that supply.
Urban Alchemy is providing staffing 24 hours a day at the toilets. The attendants are on hand to make sure the toilets remain stocked with toilet paper and are kept tidy, and that the hand-washing units have soap, water and paper towels. The staff also can assist in requesting emergency response, if needed.
Other nonprofit workforce development programs may be brought on as the program expands.
