Homeless Shelters
New, clean undergarments provide comfort, hygiene, privacy, and dignity for individuals and families experiencing housing instability.
Why underwear matters
Underwear is one of the most basic parts of getting dressed, yet it is often one of the least donated essentials.
For people experiencing homelessness or housing instability, access to new, clean undergarments supports hygiene, comfort, privacy, and personal care. Wearing the same underwear for extended periods can contribute to skin irritation, chafing, rashes, and infections—especially when someone has limited access to showers, laundry, or a clean change of clothing.
Fresh undergarments also make it possible to change after bathing, working, attending school, or staying overnight in a shelter. The need includes women, men, teens, children, families, and older adults, which is why shelters and outreach organizations need a dependable range of styles and sizes.
What Shelters and Outreach Partners Need
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New Underwear
New underwear is one of the most frequently requested and least consistently donated essentials. A reliable supply of different sizes and styles helps people maintain hygiene, reduce skin irritation and discomfort, and change into clean clothing after bathing, work, school, or an overnight shelter stay.
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New Bras
A properly fitting bra provides support, comfort, coverage, and privacy throughout the day. Shelters and community organizations need a range of band and cup sizes so women and teens can receive an item that fits rather than simply accepting whatever is available.
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New T-Shirts/Undershirts
New T-shirts and undershirts provide an additional clean layer for everyday wear, sleep, work, school, and changing weather. They can also help someone feel more comfortable and prepared when moving between a shelter, an appointment, a classroom, or a workplace.
What Partners See Every Day
“We are a low-barrier shelter, and we try to provide the basic needs of our clients. Underwear definitely falls into the category of a basic need and offers our clients a bit of human dignity.
“I have seen too many times the lack of dignity our clients feel when we have to tell them we don't have any underwear for them. I am constantly on the trail of underwear donations and generally fail to obtain the quantities in the sizes that we need.”
-Homeless Alliance
The Need Is Closer Than You Think
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People experienced homelessness on a single night in the United States in January 2025.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2025 Point-in-Time Count
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People in families with children experienced homelessness on a single night in the United States in January 2025.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2025 Point-in-Time Count
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Of people experiencing homelessness in families with children were under age 18 in January 2025.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2025 Point-in-Time Count
Help Meet an Essential Need
New, clean undergarments are easy to overlook, but they make a meaningful difference in hygiene, comfort, privacy, and daily life.
When you donate new underwear, bras, and undershirts, The Undie Chest helps place these essentials with trusted shelters, outreach organizations, and nonprofit partners serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
