Local ministry to offer free showers, with mobile unit, for Antioch’s homeless community starting Sunday

Inside one of the mobile shower units by Shower House Ministries.

Inside one of the mobile shower units by Shower House Ministries.

By Jerri Langlais

Finally, there’s some good news for the homeless in our community, starting this Sunday, September 13. Showerhouse Ministries, led by Ken Rickner, is bringing a shower trailer to L Street near the marina, in Antioch’s downtown, at 10:00 a.m. He has given the name Showers of Hope to the effort.

The trailer can be moved to different locations to provide showers and other items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs and deodorant, and there will be other ministries coming alongside who will be bringing socks, underwear and clothing, and haircuts, for those who until now have had little or no access to bathing facilities and these other items. It will have two regular shower stalls and one larger one to accommodate handicapped persons.

While doing outreach on the streets, Ken saw the need for showers, and the brokenness, too, and felt the need to do something about it. And after much prayer, he had a vision of a trailer and heard the words “Showerhouse Ministries.”

Not knowing where to start, he heard the Lord say, “Go through one door at a time.” So he started working without plans or drawings and using his own money, he began the project starting with the purchase of a trailer and shower stalls in July, 2014.

A friend stepped forward and offered to help with plumbing needs, and he also called on the help of an electrician friend. Ken knew he was going to need fresh water storage, a pump to move the water, a heating system such as propane tanks, a generator for power, and waste water collection tanks, while providing privacy, all within a self-contained unit.

The project turned out to be a little more complex than Ken had anticipated, but he was compelled to continue. After approximately 10 months of building, the trailer is finished.

Dialing it in and going through a bit of red tape took some time, but we are now ready to go,” Ken said. “I could not have done it without the help of a few individuals and the prayer support of others.”

He offers special thanks to the following who helped make the Showers of Hope a reality:

Mike and Chuckie from Butlers Plumbing, Brentwood

Frank with Salucci’s Electric, Oakley

Fred with Fred’s Welding, Oakley

Doug Hardcastley of Hardcastle’s RV, Oakley

Showerhouse Ministries Showers of Hope Kickoff — Sunday, Sept 13th, 2015, 10:00 AM, L Street near the marina, downtown Antioch

This is a new and growing ministry, and we want to network with other people and cities. There are many ways to be involved. Please feel free to contact us at Showerhouseministries.com or “like” their Facebook page by clicking here.


the attachments to this post:


Mobile shower unit inside


3 Comments to “Local ministry to offer free showers, with mobile unit, for Antioch’s homeless community starting Sunday”

  1. Jerri Langlais says:

    Thank you so much for publishing this. This kind of ministry is happening here in Medford Oregon, as well as Ashland Oregon, San Francisco, and Hawaii. Antioch and surrounding communities have homeless that deserve to know that they are cared about, and those of us who love Jesus Christ want to provide them with just this kind of His love.

  2. Victoria p. says:

    Thank You

  3. Pearl Decew says:

    Inspiring and I am so happy to call you my brother in Christ still. I want to help by donating shower supplies. I will look up the website and call your team. Thank you.

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