LavaMaeˣ Begins Work to Prototype a Pop-Up Shower

Initial pop-up shower rendering, Gensler 2020

Cost is the number one barrier to deploy mobile shower trailers, and LavaMaeˣ aims to design and manufacture a low-cost, easy to assemble pop-up shower solution to expand hygiene access for communities in need.

In response to COVID-19, LavaMaeˣ deployed DIY handwashing stations and went from encampment to encampment to bring critical supplies to our unhoused neighbors. During this outreach LavaMaeˣ learned from its guests that being able to take a shower in their own environment would be game changing, and developing a “pop-up” solution would be a quick and cost-effective way to dramatically expand hygiene access.

“With shelters at 50% capacity still, and many brick and mortar showers unavailable, what we’ve heard the most on the streets this year, from our guests is to have the ability to take a shower in their own environment.” said Kris Kepler, CEO of LavaMaeˣ, “It’s always been a dream of ours to create a “Shower-in-a-Box”, and even though clean hands saves lives, a shower is just as important to rekindle dignity, restore optimism, and unlock opportunity.”

Although LavaMaeˣ delivers weekly showers, we use commercial shower trailers and provide free consulting to communities wanting to deploy them. However, one of the biggest barriers to deploying a shower trailer is cost. Up front, purchasing a three-stall shower trailer costs roughly $60,000. Fundraising this amount of money is very difficult, and has even resulted in some of our consulting projects never getting off the ground.

With this pop-up solution, communities can bring showers to our neighbors at a fraction of the cost. And even though we’re working to to deploy an affordable, flexible, lightweight yet totally private “pop up” shower to our unhoused neighbors, it can also be used in times of natural disasters and is critical to effective community responses in the face of all types of crises.

At the time of this writing, the largest barriers to this pop-up shower solution is privacy, portability, obtaining hot water, and safe grey water disposal. And through collaboration and innovation, LavaMaeˣ strives to overcome these challenges and begin manufacturing and deploying pop-up showers for Spring/Summer 2021.

Want to support this project? Donate today or contact us!