A center for the homeless was about to close when Rick Steves took action that saved it

A homeless hygiene center in south Snohomish County, which once faced closure, is now secure, bringing relief and renewed hope to hundreds of people who depend on it every day.

The Lynnwood Hygiene Center, the only facility in the area offering free daily showers and restrooms to people without homes, was saved just weeks before it was set to shut down.

For years, the homeless center has been a quiet but powerful lifeline. Operated by the Jean Kim Foundation since 2020, the homeless hygiene center has provided more than 52,000 showers, along with hot meals and clean clothing.

Nearly 700 unhoused residents rely on the center for basic needs, dignity, and a safe place to rest indoors.

That lifeline was nearly cut when the property owner announced plans to sell the building for $2.5 million.

A homeless hygiene center facing an uncertain future

The possible sale sent shockwaves through the community. For many visitors, the Lynnwood Hygiene Center is not just a service location—it is an integral part of their daily survival.

When news spread that a developer planned to buy the property, leaders at the homeless center were told to prepare for closure.

Sandra Mears, executive director of the Jean Kim Foundation, was tasked with planning a final gathering. She later shared how painful that moment was.

“I didn’t want a goodbye party,” Sandra Mears said.

By November, the outlook was grim. Without a new owner, the homeless hygiene center would close its doors, leaving hundreds of people without a place to shower, wash clothes, eat a warm meal, or escape the cold and rain.

Rick Steves learns about the homeless center

Help arrived from an unexpected place. Rick Steves, a well-known travel writer and TV host who lives nearby, learned about the possible closure after reading a local online newspaper.

Despite his close proximity, Rick Steves later explained that he had not been aware of the homeless center’s existence.

He also shared that he did not initially understand what a hygiene center was, NPR  noted.

After learning more, the purpose became clear. A homeless hygiene center, he learned, is a place where people can clean themselves, do laundry, eat hot food, and spend a few safe hours indoors.

What struck Rick Steves most was how invisible the center and the people it served had become.

“I realized, oh my goodness, there’s an invisible community with an invisible center helping invisible people. And it’s not right. It needs to be kept alive,” Rick Steves said.

That realization pushed him to act.

A homeless hygiene center is saved just in time

Only weeks before the Lynnwood Hygiene Center was set to close, Rick Steves stepped in as the anonymous donor. They purchased the property for $2.25 million.

The move immediately stopped the closure and secured the future of the homeless hygiene center.

Soon after, community members gathered at the homeless center to celebrate the news.

A cake marked the moment, with the words “fait accompli” written in red icing, meaning the deal was done.

During the gathering, Rick Steves reflected on his younger days traveling the world with only a backpack, remembering how important access to showers and clean clothes had been during those times.

He later described the purchase as the best $2.25 million he could imagine spending.

The support did not end there. Members of the community donated an additional $400,000 to support the Lynnwood Hygiene Center’s progress.

According to Sandra Mears, the funds will be used for building repairs and expanding services.

The impact is significant.

Thanks to the combined support, the homeless hygiene center will continue serving around 700 people each year. It is expected to provide about 16,000 hot meals and 10,000 showers annually.

A call for shared responsibility

While grateful, Rick Steves made it clear that private donations should not be the only reason essential services survive.

In posts shared on Bluesky, he explained that basic needs, such as showers, food, and shelter, should be public priorities, not last-minute rescues.

“If we don’t have [$2.25 million] for a whole county to give homeless people a shower and a place to get out of the rain and a place to wash their clothes, what kind of society are we?” Rick Steves said.

For the people who use the homeless center, the impact is deeply personal. Al, a frequent visitor, spoke about what the saved homeless hygiene center means to those who depend on it.

“Rick Steves is a community treasure,” said Al, one of the center’s frequent visitors. “Not just for Snohomish County, but for all of Washington.”

Thanks to Rick Steves, Sandra Mears, and the wider community, the Lynnwood Hygiene Center remains open.

For hundreds of people, the homeless hygiene center continues to offer something simple but powerful: a place to feel clean, cared for, and seen.

Watch how Rick Steves saved the homeless hygiene center just in time through the video below: