Abstract:
In October of 2020, Seattle City Council raised a Council Budget Action (CBA), proposing the allocation of $100,000 General Fund dollars to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to develop and implement a publicly accessible sink program. The CBA recommended SPU make funding available, potentially through a grant program, to community groups and private property owners for the provision of publicly accessible sinks in order to increase access to hygiene and handwashing facilities for all residents in need of services. The sinks were intended to supplement the existing handwashing stations that the City deployed as part of the Public Hygiene program at the beginning of the public health emergency. This project evaluated the overall efficacy of the Street Sink program, as well as illuminated facilitators and barriers to implementing urban hand washing solutions.