San Rafael’s Ritter Center is offering showers to unhoused residents once a week, health care center officials announced.

Every Monday from 1 to 4 p.m., the center will provide showers to those in need in an effort to improve the physical and mental well-being of people who are unsheltered.

Palo Alto-based WeHOPE is bringing a mobile shower vehicle like this one on a weekly basis to Ritter Center to provide basic hygiene services to homeless individuals. The funding is provided by the city of San Rafael. (Courtesy of WeHOPE)

The program goes hand-in-hand with the center’s laundry service. Both programs are meant to connect people living on the streets with additional services like primary and behavioral health care, case management, food and a path to permanent housing.

Mark Shotwell, CEO of Ritter Center, said basic hygiene, like being able to clean one’s self and their clothes, is a basic right and can make a huge difference in someone reclaiming their dignity.

“Resuming shower services folds organically into our mission to improve the health, dignity and well-being of people living in poverty,” said Shotwell. “Let’s continue to care for our community with compassion.”

The mobile shower services, funded by the city of San Rafael, are run by the nonprofit WeHOPE.