In 1990, a group of unhoused New Yorkers came together to file a class-action lawsuit against the city, citing the need for more public restrooms around the city. They argued that the city’s neglect forced them to suffer humiliation, health risks and indignities in a simple attempt to use the restroom. This lawsuit illustrates a universal fact: access to bathrooms is a fundamental human need being systematically denied in New York City. Decades have passed, yet the problem remains unresolved. New Yorkers across the city, particularly the most vulnerable, still struggle to meet their basic needs.
A report from the Coalition for the Homeless found that unhoused people frequently cite the absence of restrooms as one of their biggest day-to-day challenges. Without reliable access to a public restroom, people are left to risk criminalization and sacrifice their dignity to meet their basic bodily needs. Depriving people of access to basic health resources such as a place to use the restroom or wash their hands poses a health risk for both the unhoused and all city residents. The lack of public restrooms disproportionately affects those who are already struggling to survive on minimal resources.
New York City has just one public restroom for every 7,500 residents, placing it 93rd among the 100 largest U.S. cities in terms of restroom availability. Of the few public restrooms that exist, only two are open 24/7. Most facilities are located in parks, where operating hours are typically limited to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Even more troubling, a recent city council survey uncovered that two-thirds of park restrooms inspected had significant issues ranging from closures during scheduled hours to a lack of functioning locks, soap or other necessary supplies…