Breaking News: Rick Steves Saves Seattle Hygiene Center for Homeless Residents

Travel writer and TV host Rick Steves has purchased the Lynnwood Hygiene Center near Seattle, securing its future as a free resource for hot meals and hot showers for homeless residents. The purchase was announced on Wednesday, December 20, after an anonymous donor initially came forward to save the center last month.

The Lynnwood Hygiene Center, which had operated rent-free on the property since 2020, was set to close due to financial constraints. However, Steves' intervention ensures the center will remain open, providing essential services to those in need.

According to Steves, he was motivated by his own experiences as a backpacker, recalling the importance of access to basic hygiene facilities. The center's closure would have left many homeless individuals without a vital lifeline.

Community members gathered to celebrate the purchase, with Steves expressing his commitment to keeping the center open and free for those who rely on it. The immediate impact of Steves' intervention is that the Lynnwood Hygiene Center will continue to operate, offering a vital service to the community.

This is a developing story, with further details and reactions expected in the coming days.