Showering Love Brings Radical Hospitality® to Fort Lauderdale, FL
“Grace” Mobile Shower Bus, | Photo by Showering Love
How Founder Jeanne Albaugh moved through homelessness and transformed a Fort Lauderdale bus into showers and toilets on wheels
The Backstory: From homelessness to making a dream come true
The story behind Showering Love starts with Jeanne Albaugh.
While volunteering for Feeding America, Jeanne had an idea to convert a tractor-trailer into mobile showers and laundry services for people experiencing homelessness. She wanted to “take this truck to every bridge, travel the world, and help those that were living under the bridge.”
Little did she know then, that her life would dramatically change.
After an accident, followed by a series of unfortunate events, Jeanne’s life spiraled downward; out of control. She fell into despair and eventually began living on the streets. Jeanne herself was now under the bridge.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would become homeless, not me.” says Jeanne, “But it happened, just like it happens to many others.”
Jeanne lived like this for almost 10 years, and it took a tremendous amount of effort, perseverance, and determination for Jeanne to get her life back in order and help others. She had to ground herself and address the issues that got her into this situation. Mental health issues, trauma, guilt, and shame were all internal barriers she had to overcome to become her whole self again. And she did!
After finding her whole self again, she remembered the spark that would make it her life’s mission to bring mobile showers and dignity to folks experiencing housing insecurity. Her personal experience launched the momentum of her life’s mission, and this inspired the community to join alongside her to make her vision a reality. And in June 2016, Showering Love was born!
Radical Hospitality in action
For Showering Love, Radical Hospitality means having the ability to deliver service in a respectful and sensitive way—to connect with guests at their level.
Showering Love has several folks working for them who have also experienced housing insecurity. This helps them make stronger connections with guests as they remember names and engage in respectful conversations. This makes a huge difference for guests, especially coming from someone who has walked in their shoes.
The Showering Love service model
Showering Love’s service model provides a private, personal and unique hygiene experience in the Fort Lauderdale area of Florida. Along with their hot showers, guests receive hygiene products, clothing, and backpack “kits” alongside other service partners that welcome them as they exit the bus. When guests feel clean and dignified, they are more receptive to hearing about social services.
As of this writing, with a staff of six, Showering Love has provided 2,000 showers and hygiene kits every year since June 2016. They now have two mobile shower buses (both ADA compliant) with four showers total, and expect to deliver 25,000 showers and hygiene kits per year with 11 staff members.
Jeanne Albaugh. Founder of Showering Love | Photo by Showering Love
Jeanne handing out blankets to guests | Photo by Showering Love
Adapting to COVID-19
Showering Love had to hire staff because they could no longer work with volunteers due to the increased training needed to implement COVID-19 service protocols. It has been especially challenging for them to constantly remind guests to keep their masks on and to maintain social distancing.
Staff also had to stop giving hugs! Sometimes, guests really need one. This has been tough for both guests and Showering Love staff.
How LavaMaeˣ Helped
LavaMaeˣ saw the incredible dedication that Jeanne had and through its partnership with The Right To Shower, LavaMaeˣ funded the organization $10,000 to secure the first shower bus in 2020. A year later, LavaMaeˣ funded the organization an additional $10,000 to secure their second shower bus!
Keys to success
Showering Love’s key to success is simply due to its founder’s vision, compassion and empathy. Her story is unique and this resonates with the guests. She is well known in the local community now and the momentum continues to grow.
Shower bus is self-contained and does not hook up for water; both clear and dark waters are housed within the bus.
Radical Hospitality—meeting guests right where they are, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually