Community Perspectives
Luz Coleville, Amistad House: “In terms of foot washing events, we did those while we work[ed] with Chapel on Green … a homeless individual can walk up to eight miles a day in their worn out socks. There is a need for clean dry socks on a daily basis to prevent blisters and sores from unkept hygiene issues faced by a homeless person.”
Beatrice Codianni, Founder and Former Executive Director of Sex Workers and Allies Network (SWAN): “In my outreach work I came across many people who were suffering from blisters, bunions, infections, ingrown toenails, and athletes foot and infections. They could not just walk into a podiatrist’s office and be treated. Foot care treatment needs to be brought into the streets for it to be successful. There is a great need to provide foot care to the unhoused, and that includes foot washing. During outreach with Phil Costello I witnessed how foot washing made such a difference in people’s lives. Not only were their feet taken care of but you could see that they felt valued as a human beings. I feel as though foot health including foot washing is neglected when it should be acknowledged as an important part of keeping people healthy… Writing about it brought back memories of people in dire need of foot health care. Sex workers would be walking in snow storms with freezing feet, as were unhoused people. SWAN asked other members of the community to donate shoes and boots because so many people had problems with their feet.”
Elana Straus, MD ‘26: “As medical student, connecting with the community we serve outside of the hospital feels deeply important. Foot washing with PAWS in particular helps dignify the people it serves, meet a critical need, and form relationships with those who are most marginalized in New Haven.”
Billy Allen, MD’ 26: “PAWS provides a beautiful opportunity to be of service and connect with members of our New Haven community in an environment where the power dynamics of the medical system are leveled. For recipients of foot washing, I like to think that they receive some moments of respite and comfort as well as connection and empathy. For myself as a future medical provider, this experience gave me perspective on the importance of humility, getting on your patient’s level, and taking the time to learn about who they are as people.”
Amy and David Mueller, Someday Soon Ministries: “When we provide foot care and foot washing it brings our work with people experiencing homelessness or housing issues to a greater degree of meaning. For some of the people who elect to have foot care and washing, they report it is the first time they have removed their shoes in a while. Some people report that it’s the first time in a while since they have experienced caring touch. For some they report that it’s just relaxing and for some, especially when paired with the services of medical providers. It can help avert serious health complications. It’s an opportunity to have a 15-20 minute conversation with someone about whatever’s on their mind and to be seen and heard and comforted. Feet are sometimes the primary mode of transportation for many of the people we work with so foot washing helps us acknowledge and care for their feet so they can continue to persevere through the challenges they are facing”
Giselle Carlotta-McDonald, Executive Director, Project Access of New Haven: “Our feet are not only a means of transportation but also vital connection to our health, well-being, and the world around us. The PAWS project goes beyond basic foot care, its work is about restoring dignity, improving quality of life, and providing compassionate support to those who lack access to essential items like, shoes, socks and hygiene resources. This project embodies a profound commitment to our community’s most vulnerable, reminding us all of the importance of care and respect for every individual. At Project Access New Haven, we commend the PAWS project, and we are deeply grateful for impact they are making in our homeless community.”
Anna Jennings Sherman, Yale College Graduate ’20: “PAWS became my heart and soul for the four years I was an undergraduate at Yale. This is due to courageous friends like Ashton Gores and Ryan Sutherland. It became that because of the incredibly vulnerable act of washing the feet of someone experiencing homelessness. To wash the feet of those experiencing homelessness is to acknowledge their humanity in its fullest form—it is a gesture of humility, compassion, and profound connection, reminding us that dignity begins where judgment ends. The vulnerable act of washing another feet is what makes PAWS the organization [what] it is; it is a moment of shared humanity, where barriers dissolve and compassion speaks louder than words. It is an act that brings unification to the New Haven Community… my senior thesis [was inspired by] PAWS! “
Marina Marmolejos, MPH ’19 (and former PAWS ED): “As a former Executive Director of PAWS, I witnessed the vital importance of foot health for individuals experiencing homelessness, many of whom spend significant time outdoors or in transient spaces. In colder months, rarely removing their shoes makes foot hygiene essential to preventing infections and maintaining mobility. PAWS stands out among nonprofits addressing homelessness by focusing on this often-overlooked aspect of healthcare, providing a nuanced and compassionate approach to support. Leading PAWS not only allowed me to meet a critical need in the New Haven community but also shaped my perspective on designing healthcare solutions that center the unique experiences of those we serve. This work deepened my understanding of the importance of addressing specific, tangible needs in the larger fight against the growing housing crisis.”
Lisa Levy, Chapel on the Green: “For us at Chapel on the Green, an intimate worshiping community comprised mainly of folks who are unhoused, foot-washing is a service we can offer to community members and guests that lets them know that we see them. One of the many brutal aspects of homelessness is that unhoused folks are on their feet in inadequate shoes and socks (the soles of their shoes have been worn through and have holes in them, or their socks are soaking wet from the most recent downpour, or the shoes are too small) far too often. Foot-washing (we generally spend 15-20 minutes with each person) is a way for us to recognize the pain and discomfort they go through on a daily basis; it is also a way to offer gentle touch to people who are isolated and touch-starved. Often, they have been in survival mode for so long that to be able to stop, take off their shoes and socks, and have someone else offer care to them can be an emotional or spiritual experience. When foot-washing is coupled with medical providers who can offer professional foot care to those who need it, it can be healing not just in spirit but in body as well. It is a really important service, and I often wish that we had the capacity to do it more often; it would be wonderful to have an outside foot-washing/foot care group to be able to offer this to our community on a quarterly basis.”
K., Guest at NHP [lived experience with homelessness]: “I have gout, I have bad feet, I have diabetes. My feet are bad. I think foot washing is important. I wash my feet two to three times a day because of my diabetes. I need a podiatrist, and foot care is something I’d love to see more at this clinic.”
V. H., Guest at NHP [lived experience with homelessness]: “[A] very important part of foot washing is that spiritually one should understand it is detoxification taking place. Salt and certain herbs should be used. Also, certain scripture [should be said] as the process is taking place. I had arthritis, and the things the hospital was giving me were not working… Foot washing is important, and offering thermal socks.”
“These coats mean so much to us. I’m homeless. It’s so cold in New Haven in December — out on the streets, you need all the warmth you can get. And people are constantly stealing our jackets, so we sleep in them, never take them off. They get worn out so quickly. I’m so thankful for a fresh, new jacket — and it looks so nice, too — to keep me warm. This is such a good thing y’all are doing for us.”
“Having a jacket is life or death. It’s freezing out here, and at night, you want a jacket that you can curl up in to sleep. I’m gonna layer this underneath my other jackets. The long ones you can use like blankets. I’m so happy to have this new jacket — it’s so warm and comfortable. It makes sleeping out in the cold so much easier. Thank you.”
“This holiday, I got no one. I’m all alone. I live alone and don’t have much money. This has made my holiday so much brighter — having a jacket like this one, something I couldn’t afford in my wildest dreams, is amazing. I’m never gonna get out of it — I’m even gonna wear it in summer! It’s so comfortable. It’s the best thing I own now. I couldn’t be more happy about getting one of these.”
“Thanks y’all for the socks and lotions… and wow, my new kicks feel great. They are so great. Honestly, how’d y’all get Vans? Those are fancy, and I feel like I am walking on air. Totally cool, with their stripes… they look like a million bucks. You guys are the best!”
“What I like about these is that they are lightweight, but comfortable. I can’t tell you how bad it is having shoes that don’t fit. They always give me blisters, or make my toenails crack. Having a pair of shoes — and new shoes! — that fit is a godsend. I can’t tell you what it means. These shoes will get a lot of mileage, I can assure you of that. I spend so many hours on my feet. With new shoes like these, I feel like I can walk