The Soldotna City Council was presented with resolution 2023-019 designating a bathroom and shower trailer as surplus property, and authorizing it’s donation to the Kenai Peninsula Homelessness Coalition.
In October 2020, the City of Soldotna purchased a portable restroom/shower trailer to support improved hygiene at city parks and campgrounds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, the City was operating under a December 30, 2020 deadline for the expenditure of all CARES Act funds and public health guidance emphasized enhanced cleaning and disinfection – including washing hands, and disinfecting surfaces – to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The trailer was purchased with $181,890.21 from the COVID-19 CARES Act Relief Special Revenue Fund.
It includes two identical sides, both equipped with two toilets, a handwashing sink, and four individual shower stalls.
In March of 2023, the City was approached by the Kenai Peninsula Homelessness Coalition, a 501(c)3 organization, with a mission to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness achieve stability, about the possibility of acquiring the shower trailer to enhance facilities for clients experiencing homelessness in the Central Peninsula area.
Council member Dave Carey expressed his support;
“I know there are many people who have worked very hard in terms of this type of issue and continue to we’re constantly looking for ways to help this is a real way to make a definitive difference.”
Council member Jordan Chilson agreed with resolution and explained the trailers origins;
“We do have a long standing history of supporting efforts to respond to homelessness on the peninsula and this is just one of many things that we have available to us in doing so. Specifically this resolution addresses a shower trailer that was purchased using federal funding that came through the COVID pandemic and to my knowledge that trailer has had minimal if any use since we purchased it. I believe it’s just sitting in storage right now and thanks to our city manager, we became aware that there is an organization that is interested in putting this trailer to use for the benefit of those. I think that are in most need in our community and I think to have a resource like this that can make a very positive impact in people’s lives that genuine and the need that and to essentially squander that that resource. I find that kind of shameful so, I think it’s really important that we take this step to put it to use that need it.”
The resolution passed unanimously by the Soldotna City Council, which will donate the trailer to the Kenai Peninsula Homelessness Coalition.
