No Showers: Former Homeless Residents Expose Colusa's "Dirty Little Secret"
- Homeless Advocacy
- Jul 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 2
July 24, 2025 (COLUSA, CA) – Travelers often describe Colusa with a nostalgic sigh – a quaint, small-town vibe where time seems to slow. Yet beneath this tranquil surface lies a stark reality, a "dirty little secret" the county, according to some, would rather keep hidden: the systemic neglect of its unhoused-homeless residents, as it relates to their desperate need for basic hygiene supportive services.
Susan Wagenaar, a former homeless resident with six years of sobriety under her belt, has transformed her lived experience into a powerful form of advocacy, a watchdog group that has mastered the art of "FOLLOW THE GRANT MONEY”.
Susan and her small, dedicated team at Colusa County Recovery meticulously pore over grant funding, identify service gaps, participate in committees, host peer groups, and connect individuals to the vital resources they need to survive on the streets in a county without a viable shelter program in place. More importantly, they have earned the trust of Colusa's unsheltered community, giving a voice to those often silenced through published articles, a podcast, and a newly formed advocacy group that meets once a month.
"We’ve invested months in conducting a homeless needs assessment and released our first round of findings on May 12th in an investigative article entitled 'My Conversation with Five Unhoused Residents Living Rough in Colusa,'” states Wagenaar. "In total, we have collaborated with nearly two dozen unhoused individuals and asked two crucial questions: 'What do you need?' and 'How can Colusa solve homelessness?'" Wagenaar explains. "Then we did the unthinkable – we listened."
The revelations from this grassroots effort were profound. Perhaps the most shocking discovery was that roughly 70% of the unhoused community members they engaged with had been told by local housing specialists, "NO FUNDING AVAILABLE.”
"What truly 'blew our minds' about those THREE WORDS was the demographic skew: almost all of those turned away for homeless assistance services were males!” reports Wagenaar.
Furthermore, reports indicate the agency doesn't have basic hygiene kits on hand as a fundamental resource for people without housing. Wagenaar says she can verify that, adding that she was advised the agency plans to order more.
No Showers – An Unmet Critical Need
One of the most urgent needs identified through their extensive outreach was the dire need for access to showers for those experiencing homelessness.
“Imagine navigating daily life without the fundamental ability to clean oneself; that’s inhumane,” says Rob, a peer support specialist with lived experience of homelessness who was part of the outreach. “It's wrong for a community, as compassionate as ours is, to be so negligent about a basic human necessity – hygiene."
For Colusa's unhoused residents, staying clean is a daily struggle that impacts their health, dignity, and ability to engage with society. Without regular access to showers, basic hygiene becomes impossible, leading to increased health risks, social isolation, and an overwhelming sense of dehumanization. The lack of shower access is not just an oversight; it is, Wagenaar argues, a symptom of a deeper, unacknowledged problem that permeates our approach to helping those who are without housing.
A Community United: Taking Action
Recognizing the significant gaps in Colusa's homeless support system, Colusa County Recovery decided to broaden their reach. "We reached out to nonprofits and asked for their help," Wagenaar states. They connected with Hands of Hope in Yuba City and PneumaCare Health and Wellness, a local nonprofit who also has a facility in Yuba, both of whom graciously offered to allow people-in-need to access their shower facilities."
This collaboration offers a vital, albeit temporary, solution, but the ultimate responsibility, they argue, lies with Colusa County itself. "Our next move is to contact the city manager, who was instrumental in Rancho Colus, the newly constructed housing complex that provides on-site supportive services to low-income residents (some of whom were once homeless), to see if we can gain access to shower facilities that the city manages at one of their parks," Wagenaar reveals.
"While we are willing and have a compassionate nonprofit who will transport people to Yuba City, we need local stakeholders to step up and help SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, so that vital resources are not used on gas and paying drivers to commute to another county."
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Access to showers is considered a basic human right, particularly for those experiencing homelessness, and its lack thereof is a social justice issue. The United Nations recognizes the human right to water and sanitation, which includes access to clean water for hygiene and sanitation purposes. Limited or no access to showers for homeless individuals undermines their health, safety, dignity, and overall well-being.
RESOURCES
Where to Report Allegations of Fraud, Waste, Abuse, Mismanagement, or Discrimination Related to Homelessness
If you are experiencing homelessness (or are a county employee) and believe you have witnessed waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement of homeless funding, initiatives, or services, or if you've experienced dismissive or discriminatory treatment, it's crucial to report it. By reporting, even anonymously, you can help hold individuals and organizations accountable and potentially improve the lives of others experiencing homelessness in Colusa County or the community you call home.
1. Experiencing Dismissal or Discrimination? (Immediate Action)
IMPORTANT: If you are experiencing homelessness and your lived experience or funding concerns are met with dismissive or discriminatory treatment, please contact Colusa County Recovery directly and immediately.
Phone: 530-588-5697
Your concerns matter and will be addressed.
2. Report General Grievances or Program Concerns (Local)
For general grievances or concerns about community-wide planning and strategic resource use to address homelessness across Colusa, Glenn, and Trinity Counties, contact the lead agency:
Glenn County Community Action Department (Dos Rios Continuum of Care)
Phone: (530) 865-6129
Email: gccad@countyofglenn.net
3. Report Suspected Fraud, Waste, or Misuse of Funds (Local)
If your complaint specifically involves suspected fraud, waste, or misuse of funds related to homeless services or public assistance contact:
Colusa County Public Assistance Fraud Prevention Hotline
Phone: (530) 458-0279
4. Report or File a Complaint with Federal Agencies
These agencies investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or whistleblower-related matters within federally funded programs.
The HUD Office of Inspector General
Hotline: 800-347-3735
Contact Form: HUD Office of Inspector General
U.S. Government Accountability Office
This hotline supports accountability across the federal government and can help refer allegations to the right agencies.
Hotline: 800-424-5454
Contact form: U.S. Government Accountability Office
5. Contact Elected Officials and State Agencies
For broader oversight or to bring concerns to the attention of higher authorities:
Congressman Doug LaMalfa
Phone: (530) 645-6225
Colusa County Board of Supervisors
Contact: Janice Bell (District V Supervisor)
Email: jbell@countyofcolusaca.gov
(Note: You may also contact the main Board of Supervisors office at (530) 458-0508 for general inquiries or to be directed to another supervisor.)
California Department of Social Services
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: PIAR@dss.ca.gov
California State Auditor (Whistleblower Hotline)
Hotline: (800) 952-5665
Keywords: Colusa County, Local News, Advocacy, Homelessness, Unsheltered. Service Delivery Gaps, Unmet Needs, Community Assessment, Homeless Grants, Human Interest Story, Waste, Fraud and Abuse. People Helping People.
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