Mobile Sanitation for the Homeless in Laredo

We are a group of dual-enrollment students at Hector J. Garcia Early College High School and Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. As young adults, we are privileged to have the necessities—such as shelter, food, clothing and sanitation—needed to further our education. However, not many citizens of the nation are fortunate. For those who face the situation of living on the streets, basic necessities are inconceivable privileges, even in the city of Laredo. Our concerns for the homeless in Laredo resulted with the idea of providing sanitation by implementing mobile showers for those who face homelessness. According to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Texas had about 25,000 people living on the streets in 2018. In other words, there is an increasing large population of homeless individuals in Texas, including Laredo. With that in mind, there is a limit of capacity in homeless shelters—such as the Bethany House of Laredo—to provide and assist aid for the large number of people living on the streets. Our current goal is simple: to physically and mentally uplift the homeless to pursue a better life off the streets. Unfortunately, there are situations where homeless people are avoided and treated harshly in public places since they do not have good hygiene. By having the mobile showers, the homeless will be able to feel as if they are part of the community. Everyone has the right to have dignity and feel clean. Eventually, we have the hope that this will decrease the amount of people in the streets in the state of Texas. We are only students that want our voices to be heard to make a change in our community. We believe that with your support will make a great impact the homeless community in Laredo, Texas. Thank you for taking your time in reading our pursuit to make a change and for your support in wanting to make a change as well.