Homeless people cite many challenges when it comes to living outside. Lack of public restrooms is always a chief concern.

For about nine months, the City of San Rafael has repeatedly refused to pony up for porta-potties and handwashing stations at a homeless encampment on the Mahon Creek Path.

About 20 homeless people relocated to the Mahon Creek Path in March, after the city evicted them from Albert Park, which has bathrooms. It seemed the least the city could do was provide a couple of toilets at the new site, dubbed Camp Integrity by the campers.

A homeless activist, Robbie Powelson, says he asked city officials numerous times about paying for porta-potties and they shot him down. In July, I asked City Councilmember Rachel Kertz and San Rafael’s assistant director of community development, Chris Hess, why.

“We’re not doing that,” Hess answered, without further explanation.

Fortunately, Powelson took matters into his own hands soon after Camp Integrity was established. He set up a GoFundMe page to accept donations to buy a handwashing station and rent a single porta-potty for the campers. Within a week, the Honey Bucket arrived.

Every month, the GoFundMe barely raises enough money to pay the bill. The handwashing station broke, so they now rent that device, too. Gradually, the population of the camp doubled, which created the need for an additional porta-potty and handwashing station. Two toilets currently accommodate more than 40 people.

The monthly bill totals $610. However, this month, the invoice jumped to almost $1,200 because the porta-potties needed to be moved down the path. Powelson sent out an urgent email requesting donations.

A generous donation soon arrived from Frank Shinneman, a retired CEO who volunteers his time for social justice issues. Not only did Shinneman contribute $500, but he also challenged San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin and the other city councilmembers to match his gift.

Dear Mayor Kate,

I want to wish you and your council peace and health this holiday season. While we have disagreed over resource policy this year, I believe that as individuals you are all caring and compassionate. I fully understand the constraints of your guidance of a municipality compared to your personal desires. 

I want to give you an opportunity to publicly demonstrate your personal generosity and goodwill by challenging you to match my $500 contribution of one month’s cost for bathrooms at Camp Integrity. If each of you accepts this challenge, your most needy residents will be assured the minimum hygienic resources through the spring of next year. 

Hygiene facilities are amongst the most fundamental of human rights. To intentionally degrade people by denying toilet facilities is unnecessary torment and tantamount to incitement to break the law. 

Attached you will find notice of my contribution as well as a link for you to make a contribution.

Best Regards,
Frank Shinneman

A little more than three hours later, Colin replied to Shinneman’s email. Apparently, she has no intention of opening her own pocketbook.

Mr. Shinneman,

Thanks for caring about all members of our community. The City continues to work with the ‘Camp Integrity’ plaintiffs in the lawsuit (as you know the City is currently being sued) and as the City will be entering into a settlement agreement, items like the one you suggest will be considered. The City is committed to working with advisors who have ‘lived experience’ with homelessness and their input will be important when considering the prioritization of limited resources.

Warmly,
Kate

There’s a lot to unpack in the mayor’s three sentences. First, many of those living at Camp Integrity sued San Rafael after city officials passed an ordinance limiting the size and number of campsites permitted in an area. Although the ordinance required that more than half of the campers relocate, it didn’t address where they could go.

Colin seems to be suggesting that San Rafael will only pay for the porta-potties as part of a lawsuit settlement. Are toilets for homeless people now the city’s bargaining chip?

And if resources are limited, should San Rafael spend its budget fighting a lawsuit about an ordinance that should never have been passed in the first place or on toilets for homeless people? Crying poor seems especially absurd since city officials have acknowledged they expected to be sued over the severely restrictive ordinance.

Finally, Colin mentions that the city will seek input from people who have experienced homelessness to determine whether porta-potties are a priority.

C’mon, Mayor Kate. Shinneman, who is a human being, explained to you that it’s a matter of dignity for people to have access to toilets. Are you really saying that only those with “lived experience” can verify that people don’t want to poop on the sidewalk in front of strangers.

I contacted Jason Sarris, a member of the Marin Lived Experience Advisory Board who spent a decade living on the streets, to find out if he believes porta-potties are a top priority for homeless people. Not surprisingly, he does.

Sarris remembers the difficulty of finding bathrooms when he was homeless. While some grocery stores and gas stations are open 24/7 and allow customers to use the facilities, he couldn’t always find a nearby spot to camp. In fact, Sarris developed gastrointestinal issues from not eliminating.

“I didn’t want to poop without using a bathroom,” Sarris said. “I tried to have a routine, but in camp life, you don’t eat when you want—you eat when you get food.”

Sarris also confirmed that the Marin Lived Experience Advisory Board met with representatives from San Rafael this week. They discussed porta-potties, and Sarris said he recommended that the city provide the portable toilets for its homeless residents.

The next question is, of course, will San Rafael begin paying for the porta-potties and handwashing stations? I asked.

Hess, the city’s assistant director of community development, responded via email. Actually, he sent two emails, the first indicating that porta-potties and handwashing stations are among the recommendations under consideration.

A few minutes later, a second email arrived, stating that I should use this “tighter response,” which contained no mention of porta-potties or handwashing stations. Instead, Hess said that the city would conduct a needs assessment with the homeless people living on Mahon Creek Path. I emailed and called Hess again for clarification but didn’t receive a reply by publication deadline.

Shinneman’s attempt at shaming the mayor and city council didn’t work. Powelson’s pleading has fallen on deaf ears. The Marin Lived Experience Advisory Board appeared to make some impact, yet not enough for the city to commit to anything but a needs assessment.

How many more people, homeless or housed, must tell the City of San Rafael that humans need toilets?