Why We Exist

Being powerless to maintain personal hygiene greatly compromises physical health.

An individual is 24 times more likely to contract Tuberculosis if they are experiencing homelessness, found by a 20 year study carried out in Czechia, and preventable hygiene-related infections such as sepsis and cellulitis can cause individuals to need emergency care.

Devastatingly, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the United Kingdom has been steadily increasing over the last 15 years. Although a nationwide problem, it is much more prevalent in London, and ‘Britain’s second city’ Birmingham.

Shelter estimates that on a given night in 2025 there will have been at least 382,618 people who were recorded as homeless – a rate of 1 in 153 people. This figure is 8% higher than in 2024. This population is mainly made up of people who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation.

More than 13,000 people were seen sleeping rough in London in 2024/25 – the highest on record. This is almost 4x higher than 15 years ago, in 2008/2009, and a 10% increase on last year.

There was a 64% increase in rough sleeping in Barking and Dagenham in two years, between 2021-2023. We respond to this need with our third weekly shower service, from just behind Barking Learning Centre.

ShowerBox is dedicated to creating a free and secure shower space for people experiencing homelessness in London, Birmingham and Barking in East London. By doing this we can support individuals to:

Sustain Good Physical Health

Access to a safe, clean place to wash helps people look after their physical health, reducing the risk of common, preventable health issues – benefiting both individuals and public health services. Between 2018 – 2021 a total of 38% of respondents of the Homeless Health Needs Audit 2022 had been admitted to hospital in the previous 12 months. Common symptoms among people experiencing homelessness (such as stomach problems, skin infections and urinary problems) could be prevented with access to regular showers.

Maintain Emotional Wellness

Lack of access to showers can create feelings of inadequacy and isolation. We want to help individuals feel more comfortable in their daily lives, with showers and with community. Findings from the Homeless Health Needs Audit states the number of people with a mental health diagnosis increased substantially from 45% in 2014 to 82% in 2021, the most common condition of which was depression. People facing homelessness are nine times more likely to take their own life than the average person.

Build Confidence

Being clean can help foster feelings of confidence, motivation and rejuvenation – all essential for creating positive change. Many people facing homelessness experience low self-esteem and low motivation, exacerbated by a lack of resources to enable them to look after themselves.

You can find the research mentioned above here:

https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_release/at_least_382000_people_are_homeless_in_england_today_#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%20on%20a,and%20living%20in%20temporary%20accommodation.

https://trustforlondon.org.uk/data/rough-sleeping-london/#:~:text=More%20than%2013%2C000%20people%20were,10%25%20increase%20on%20last%20year

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12449680/#:~:text=People%20who%20experience%20homelessness%20were,to%20support%20them%20more%20effectively