Lockers for the Homeless, Lancaster

08/30/2026

I understand and appreciate the need for our unsheltered homeless to have a place to sit or lay down out of the sun. Unfortunately, we must have a “NO LOITERING” agreement with local residents and city officials to allow placement of the Lockers for the Homeless locations.

I’m current out of town for a funeral and unable to stop at the lockers multiples during the day to ensure the area remains free of trash and no person outstays their welcome. Fortunately, the users of the lockers do self monitor the area and assist with keeping the area clean and no one loiters to long. What is difficult to monitor are the non users of the lockers that decide to take respite near the lockers.

With kind words and explaining users or others must only spend the time needed to use their assigned locker and then continue with their day or night elsewhere. Anyone that does not abide by the rules set forth in the locker use agreement will lose access to a locker and jeopardize this locker location and future locker locations.

Calling for VOLUNTEERS to stop and check in at the locker location on the 240 North Water Street location (turn left from West Walnut Street onto N Water and the this locker location is on the left). Please note the date and time you stopped and text or message me and issues. With your help we can ensure this project continues to offer a valuable resource for our unsheltered homeless and help the program expand.

Thank you for your support!
Richard “Doc” Canard
(717) 341-0039

08/07/2026

We need your support to find suitable locations, financially to purchase materials and physically to help build the platforms and ongoing support to monitor the locker locations. Message, email, or text me for information on how you can help. Be a part of the solution!

08/01/2026

CAD Drawings needed…

07/25/2026

Presented with the “Freethinkers Supporting Safe Streets” Challenge Coin this past week given to those who are making a big difference in our communities.

07/22/2026

07/06/2026

Imagine if we could provide temporary housing like Anne Street Village for the unsheltered homeless in Lancaster County. I have already reached out to schedule a site visit to Anne Street Village in Salisbury, MD to learn more. We all need to be part of the solution if we are going to make meaningful reduction in homelessness in our communities.

07/03/2026

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-city-homeless-lockers-project-eyes-expansion/article_608cfb21-13c5-4392-be54-5ca85cb73741.html

On a paved parking pad in the 200 block of North Water Street in downtown Lancaster, six rows of beige metallic lockers sit padlocked next to a portable toilet.

05/10/2026

28 lockers are ready to be issued to unsheltered homeless to be added to the existing 12 locker pilot program we made available in August 2024. The platforms are designed and built to be non permanent and movable if needed. Each locker is 12 inches wide x 18 inches deep x 60 inches tall with a hat shelf and hooks inside. Thank you to Sunrise Rotary Club, Lancaster BPOE Elks 134 and the Elk Riders for their support to make this project a reality. Hand Up Partners will manage the assignment of the lockers, locks and area maintenance.

05/06/2026

Moved four platforms today to the new location on North Water Street near West Walnut Street. 2 platforms with 7 lockers each are ready to issue locks to unsheltered homeless. The other 2 platforms will be ready within the next couple of days. One complete there will be 40 lockers available for the unsheltered homeless.

Special shout out to the Lancaster Elks Veterans Committee and Dave Costarella with Hand Up Partners.