Hamilton: Where do you go when you gotta go?
Our city has a drastic shortage of public washrooms — it’s time that was addressed
The City of Hamilton is well into Stage 3 of Ontario’s reopening plan. More businesses and city facilities are opening up, and more people are spending time outdoors. At the same time, one thing has become strikingly clear — the lack of public washrooms.
“I was out with my 9-year-old son and we couldn’t find a washroom. He went in his pants. The level of embarrassment was very high,” a Hamilton father of two describes.
Unfortunately, this distressing experience is common. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding a public washroom has become increasingly difficult. Washrooms are a basic human necessity and an important amenity to not just to relieve oneself, but also for hygiene, sanitation, and refuge. The pandemic reminds us all of the importance and value of public washrooms, but where are you supposed to go when there’s nowhere to go?
Finding a public washroom can quickly become a nightmare for those with young children, the aging population, those who require frequent trips to washrooms, those who menstruate, those who are pregnant, people experiencing homelessness, and the upwards of 270,000 Canadians who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease. The lack of public washrooms is an issue that has existed well before the pandemic, but has now severely worsened because of the widespread closure of many buildings and facilities.
The lack of access to public washrooms forces many to hold urine in for long periods of time, which can make way for another major public health problem — urinary tract infections (UTIs). While often not talked about, UTIs are potentially lifethreatening and rank fifth and eight for the most emergency department and most ambulatory clinic visit reasons in Canada, respectively. As if the pandemic hasn’t already been enough, this summer has been one of the hottest for Ontario. To beat the heat, many rely on outdoor areas and parks, but problems arise when people need to use the washroom.
“When there’s a heat wave and it’s too hot for me and my kids to be in my apartment, we go to the park. We order a pizza and stay there until it’s cool enough to go in. A washroom would make a huge difference for us. I’ve spoken to some of the homeowners in the area and they agree it would be a huge benefit,” says one Hamilton resident.
There’s an unspoken expectation that public washroom provision should be the responsibility of businesses rather than our local governments. However, access is not always guaranteed as many businesses require patrons to make a purchase prior to using their washrooms and not everyone has the money to buy something every time they need to go to the washroom. The ability to use washrooms within businesses has only become more uncertain with the many pandemic-related restrictions in place.
Without access to public washrooms, people are limited in their ability to practice good hand hygiene, a public health guideline that is integral in curbing the spread of COVID-19. The lack of public washrooms has disproportionately affected our most vulnerable, leaving them more susceptible to health risks during the pandemic. Hamilton-based advocates have been working hard in pushing for more public washrooms well before the pandemic and with the issue only having been exacerbated, they have amplified their efforts in asking the city to provide better washroom access for everyone.
Cities across the globe have made huge steps in designing and implementing innovative solutions to tackle their lack of public washrooms. Take the Portland Loo, for example. These permanent, stainless steel public washrooms installed across Portland, Ore., are low cost, low tech, built to fit all, and can be easily installed, cleaned, and maintained. With so many innovative public washroom designs and technologies available, why are we so behind?
It’s dirty business talking about public washrooms, specifically now that we have even fewer available. As we work to cope through the immense stress of a global pandemic, why is it that we are forced to also experience fear, anxiety, and additional risks to our individual and collective health because of something as simple as not having a place to go, when you need to go. It would be a relief to have a permanent, safe, innovative solution to a problem that isn’t going anywhere.
If you agree that we need some relief to a problem that isn’t going anywhere then follow along, share your stories, and advocate for change using #WhenNatureCalls in #HamOnt.
Fairuz Karim, a McMaster student, started this initiative as part of a course on Advocating for Sustainability. Fairuz and her team created a social media campaign on the lack of public washrooms in Hamilton. Follow on Twitter @hamontwashrooms and on Instagram @hamontwashrooms.