Simple Dignity

Rainier Ramirez-Fox, SYM Staff Member & Site Manager

Everyone was excited about the tide-pods, the slide zippered orange bag promised fresh smelling laundry. And who is to deny the satisfaction of the soft thud when the pod hits the washer? A simple pod of laundry detergent can make someone’s day; I have witnessed it again and again. Clients who wash their belongings are sometimes unable to do laundry for months at a time before coming to UDYC. Clean clothes that smell fresh should not be considered a luxury, but a human right. Wrapping yourself in a warm blankie fresh from the dryer should be practiced weekly, and here at UDYC we make that happen. Many of the youth that do their laundry here have now become regulars. We chat about their day and see if further resources could benefit them. In the month of December, 31 people came to visit and wash their belongings: that’s 31 chances to connect with unhoused and at-risk youth.

Showers are not just an opportunity to bathe. It can offer a moment of reflection, time to be alone and maybe even sing. It is an exercise in quiet joy. Some clients that come to visit have not bathed in weeks, as the opportunity to practice self-care may not come often out in the world for our clients. Here at SYM we acknowledge the importance of feeling clean and ready to thrive. In the winter months, a warm shower and hot chocolate or coffee is a moment 39 youth in the month of December were a part of. Everything one could need to take a revitalizing shower is here including a goodie bin where lip gloss, scalp treatments, perfume and more can be picked by youth to use. I enjoy being a part of this important service.

Time away from it all to focus on taking care of yourself is exactly what many youths require, and within the demographic we serve, it is vital. Hygiene rituals not only address basic needs but help us feel human. Here at UDYC we believe in dignity for all, and our shower and laundry services put that into practice.  

By SYM Staff Member and UDYC Site Manager, Rainier Ramirez-Fox