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About Us
Compassion Connection traces its roots back to 2013, when a community member sat down on a sidewalk to engage in conversation with several individuals who were experiencing homelessness. That simple act of connection led to the Hollywood Adventist Church opening its dressing room showers to a few people living on the adjacent block. From those humble beginnings, word spread, and the program began to grow.
Initially, the formalized shower program modeled itself after local day shelters. The church opened its lobby, where individuals could relax and add their names to a paper sign-up list for showers. Showers were offered on a first-come, first-served basis, in the order of sign-up. This meant some guests would arrive early in the morning but have to wait until the end of the day to shower—limiting their ability to attend to other essential needs. The team recognized there had to be a better way.
In July 2017, the church paused its shower and day shelter operations for strategic planning. From that pause, Compassion Connection was born—centered on a groundbreaking idea among service providers: that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserves high-quality service, care, and ease of access.
Rather than continuing the day shelter model, the team chose to focus on their core strength—providing an exceptional personal care experience. Inspired by the hospitality and self-care standards of the spa industry, the team implemented a personal care appointment system. Guests could book showers online at their convenience, eliminating long wait times. For those without internet access, walk-in, phone, and text-based bookings were also supported by friendly hospitality concierges.
The result was immediate. In 2017 alone, the team facilitated 3,900 showers.
By 2018, demand outpaced the team’s capacity, and guests were being turned away. That summer, Compassion Connection partnered with The Shower of Hope to bring in a mobile shower unit every Tuesday. This collaboration expanded access and made 2018 a record-breaking year.
In 2019—the first full year of the partnership with The Shower of Hope—the team provided 5,200 showers to more than 600 unique guests, thanks to increased capacity and streamlined operations.
As 2020 began, the team expected a plateau in year-over-year service growth. Then, the global pandemic hit. With businesses shuttered, gyms closed, and many service providers forced to scale back, thousands of low-income individuals were left without access to essential personal care resources.
But the Compassion Connection team was uniquely prepared. Its flexible booking system and safety-first procedures meant operations could continue with only minor adjustments, all while remaining compliant with COVID-19 guidelines. Demand skyrocketed. Showers were booked out a week in advance, and some guests had to be turned away.
To meet this surge, Compassion Connection expanded its collaborative network. Partners including The Kohler Company, Adventist Health, World Vision, and The Shower of Hope came together to provide mobile showers, staffing support, personal care supplies, and operational expertise. This partnership sustained operations from 2020 through 2023.
In 2023, Compassion Connection celebrated a decade of service and the milestone of providing over 50,000 showers. That same year, the program was awarded a grant to build its own custom-designed mobile shower trailer—offering expanded personal care options to guests. The new trailer was delivered in late 2024.
Now, in 2025, with more than 60,000 showers provided and the upcoming launch of the Hollywood Care Hub in summer, Compassion Connection continues to innovate and grow. Our mission remains steadfast: to meet the needs of our community with excellence, and to bring hope, dignity, and love to Hollywood’s most vulnerable residents.
