City of Shelbyville opens bi-weekly shower access at City Hall for the homeless

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 3:28 PM

In an ongoing effort to support the basic needs of Shelbyville’s homeless population, the City of Shelbyville has opened a shower facility in the basement of City Hall for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Showers will be available every other Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., starting this month.

This initiative is the result of a partnership between Mayor Scott Furgeson, The Salvation Army, and Keyen Macklin, the City’s Director of Behavioral Health and Equity. The goal is simple yet impactful: to provide access to personal hygiene in a safe, welcoming, and judgment-free space.

“While the Salvation Army continues to do tremendous work in our community, they can’t carry the weight of homelessness support services alone,” said Mayor Furgeson. “This is one small but meaningful way the City can step in and fill a very real gap.”

The shower service initially launched as a weekly offering, but after evaluating attendance patterns, the City made the decision to transition to a bi-weekly schedule to better reflect current need. If attendance increases, the City is open to returning to weekly hours in the future.

“We understand some may be disappointed that this isn’t offered every week,” said Macklin. “But we want to be transparent—this change wasn’t about limiting access, but about stewarding resources wisely and responding to actual usage. If more individuals begin to show up, we will gladly revisit the schedule.”

In addition to managing the shower site, Macklin and her team are collecting hygiene supplies and self-care donations to distribute during open hours. Donations of towels, soap, shampoo, deodorant, razors, and feminine hygiene products are especially appreciated.

Community members who wish to support this initiative or learn more can contact Keyen Macklin at kmacklin@cityofshelbyvillein.com.

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