MEEGAN Community Showers

    At the start of the COVID pandemic, I worked with a grassroots group of volunteers to build these portable showers for the unhoused community at MEEGAN (Beacon Hill Park). They were completely funded by over $10,000 in community donations.

    When we first installed them in the park, the city told us we didn’t have the proper permits (despite not having any alternative hygiene facilities) and shut off our water. So we built an off-grid system with solar panels, marine battery, cistern, and an RV pump. We were able to provide hot showers to the community for 5 days before the city impounded the whole setup.

   I wrote a short essay about the history of the park, and my experience with the unhoused community - check it out here.

Media Coverage

• Volunteers Built Showers for Victoria’s Unhoused. They Were Left High and Dry The Tyee
  
• In Victoria, This Group Won’t Wait for Approval to Build Showers for the Unhoused The Tyee
  
• Community members band together to build showers for Beacon Hill Park’s homeless The Martlet
  
• Group demands water for unauthorized showers in Beacon Hill Park Times Colonist
  
• Without city OK, group builds shower stalls for people camping at Beacon Hill Times Colonist
  
• Parc Beacon Hill : plus de 100 000 dollars après le démantèlement des douches Radio Victoria
  
• City of Victoria dismantles showers for homeless campers at Beacon Hill Park - CBC
  
• Victoria Shower Struggle: Police Raid Volunteer Effort for Homeless - The Tyee