A Solution for Downtown Public Washrooms

Downtown Owen Sound faces a growing challenge familiar to many small Canadian cities: balancing public sanitation, safety, and dignity amid increasing homelessness and visible drug use. A lack of accessible, safe public washrooms affects everyone—residents, visitors, business owners, and most acutely, unhoused individuals. Without proper facilities, people relieve themselves outdoors or in unsafe, hidden places, creating public health and social tensions. The Portland Loo, a purpose-built public washroom system originally developed by the City of Portland, Oregon, offers a model that could meet Owen Sound’s unique downtown needs through durable design, harm reduction, and respect for human dignity.

The city recently published the results of the Resident Survey on the need for public washroom in the River District. Review the Survey here.  The need for downtown washrooms was also discussed at the Octover 27, 2025 meeting of Council. Last year When you review the comments attached to the survey you will see that there were three overriding themes; Cleaniness, there potential use by addicts for drug use and the possibility that the unhoused would set up camp in them.

A Possible Solution - the Portland Loo

Owen Sound is not the first municipality to confront this problem. Many municipalities that confronted this problem found a solution in a commercial stand-alone product, specifically desinged to address this problem - the Portland Loo.

The Portland Loo’s defining strength lies in its simplicity and focus on visibility and monitoring. Each unit’s entrance faces outward toward streets or sidewalks, ensuring that users are visible as they enter or leave, discouraging hidden or prolonged activity while maintaining privacy inside. This design aligns perfectly with Owen Sound’s small downtown grid, where clear sightlines allow police, bylaw officers, or community safety staff to monitor usage naturally. Optional remote monitoring systems or motion sensors could also trigger alerts for emergencies without invasive surveillance that stigmatizes users.

Unlike traditional multi-stall washrooms, the Loo’s single-occupancy design ensures privacy and dignity for all users—families, tourists, and people experiencing homelessness alike. It also eliminates the behavioural problems that can occur in multi-stall public facilities, such as vandalism or loitering. Each unit is fully enclosed yet ventilated, creating a safe and self-contained environment suitable for a downtown area where foot traffic is constant.

Harm Reduction and Safety Features

To address substance use directly, the Portland Loo can be outfitted with several harm reduction features tailored to Owen Sound’s current health crisis. Sharps disposal containers provide a safe place for used needles, reducing the risk of needle-stick injuries to city staff and the public. This proactive approach not only improves sanitation but demonstrates a non-judgmental understanding of addiction as a health issue. Naloxone stations nearby could empower staff and the public to intervene in overdoses before emergency services arrive. Meanwhile, timed access—typically 10–15 minutes—ensures users can’t occupy the facility indefinitely while allowing staff to check in if an occupant fails to exit.

Some versions of the Loo include blue or UV lighting, designed to make veins harder to see and thereby discourage injection drug use. However, this feature remains controversial. Owen Sound should consider alternatives—such as timed access limits and staff check-ins—that deter misuse without forcing drug users into more dangerous, isolated environments. A timed access system that triggers an external alert after 10–15 minutes allows staff to verify user safety while preventing.

The Loo incorporates anti-ligature features such as rounded fixtures, recessed toilet paper holders, and breakaway shower heads, reducing the potential for self-harm. In a community grappling with opioid addiction and mental health crises, these thoughtful details can literally save lives. Furthermore, easy-to-clean materials like stainless steel, sloped floors, and hosedown-friendly drains make the Loo ideal for Owen Sound’s climate and maintenance capabilities. Municipal staff can clean and disinfect efficiently, keeping the facility sanitary and functional.

Proven Successfull

The City of Terrance opened its first Portant Loo in July 2024. Read about their experience here.  The city of Kamloops install the Portland Loo in 2018 - check it out.  Other BC  municipalities that have used them successfully are Vancover, Esquimalt, and Surrey.

Cost

$140,000 per washroom

Conclusion

Owen Sound’s downtown washroom crisis is not just about sanitation—it’s about dignity, safety, and public trust. The Portland Loo represents a balanced, evidence-based solution that acknowledges the realities of drug use and homelessness while upholding civic order and public health. With its visible, durable, single-user design and adaptable harm reduction features, it could transform downtown spaces from contested zones into shared ones. Installing even a single Portland Loo would signal that Owen Sound recognizes the humanity of all its residents—housed or unhoused—and is prepared to invest in practical compassion over punitive neglect.