The Shower of Hope received a $100,000 grant from LA2050 last summer after placing first in the LA2050 Challenge. The money has been used to operate two additional locations for one year.

“We are so grateful to everyone who voted for us and made these additional locations possible,” Mel said. “Thanks to the LA2050 grant, we have been able to offer hope and hope to more people by growing in Venice.”

Launched in 2011, LA2050 is a community-guided initiative that aims to shape a future Los Angeles that “is equitable, thriving, engaged, and empowering.” In addition to local grantmaking, LA2050 leads research and reporting and digital and physical engagement. 

The Shower of Hope plans to serve an additional 80 Angelenos weekly at two locations where people really need showers.

“What you all do, I don’t know anyone else out here doing it,” Lincoln Park Guest Leonard said.

The public could vote in the LA2050 Challenge from June 21st to June 28th of 2021 for The Shower of Hope or 24 other non-profits competing in the challenge.

“It’s not just a shower. Every person experiencing homelessness who comes to us for a shower gets a towel, soap, shampoo, razors, Q tips, lotions, toothbrushes, toothpaste and much more,” Mel explained to The Shower of Hope followers. “Of our 24 shower sites, 22 offer meals and 13 offered Covid-19 vaccines. But more importantly, every person who comes to us gets treated with dignity and respect. Is that worth 2 minutes for you to go and vote for The Shower of Hope to win a $100,000 grant?”

“To see the look of happiness on a person’s face after they use The Shower of Hope is priceless,” Mel wrote on Facebook. “We take our showers for granted. A lot of our unhoused guests only have access to one shower a week and those are the lucky ones. Most go weeks without a shower.”

Check out The Shower of Hope LA2050 Ideas Hub here.

Contact us: For general inquiries, please visit our Shower of Hope page at https://theshowerofhope.org/ . Members of the media can reach out via email partnerships.team@theshowerofhope.org