As temperatures hover near or above 100 degrees this week, raising the risk of dangerous health impacts, providers who work with people experiencing homelessness are taking extra steps to directly help neighbors in need.
Some are opening air-conditioned spaces for those who need a cool spot to be during the day. Others are passing out water, either at their facilities or sending it along with outreach teams. In addition, crews contracted by the City of Portland to clean up campsites will limit their work until the heat wave subsides.
Staff at the City of Portland and Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services have compiled the following list of providers and their efforts to offer relief. The list will be updated, so please check back for updates.
Those efforts come alongside County and City plans to open cooling centers and provide space in public buildings. For more information on those efforts, see Multnomah County’s resources list, including a link to an interactive map, or scroll to the bottom of this list.
Also, just as you did this winter, when severe cold cost lives on our streets, please check in on your neighbors. Make sure they have water and a safe place out of the heat. And if you see someone in distress, please call 911.
WHAT PROVIDERS ARE DOING
Staff have opened a cooling space in the main-floor dining room at the former location of Loaves and Fishes. That location will be open during business hours. Water will also be made available. Women staying at the Kenton Women's Village have been invited into the main office during the heat wave. The village is stocked with water and ice, and workers have also brought in kiddie pools for the women and their pets.
Central City will open its Martha Washington apartment building, 1115 SW 11th Ave., as a cooling center for Central City’s residents, patients and clients if needed. Staffers are stocking up on water, handing out flyers on how to stay cool and identifying the most vulnerable people at each site for extra care if needed.
Shelters will remain open throughout the day, with air conditioning and water available in the family and women’s shelters. Mellow indoor activities, including movies, will be available for shelter guests.
Janus has extra fans on hand for its sleeping dorms and is providing water, along with providing air-conditioning in its common rooms. The agency purchased water and additional fans to ensure comfort for youth in shelter. Outreach workers, as they encounter people on the streets, will provide water and other resources as needed.
JOIN's outreach workers are armed with coolers full of water. Staff have been purchasing fans and providing them to clients in housing. JOIN will continue to purchase fans in anticipation of additional requests. Workers also are sharing information about cooling facilities and driving people as they can when requested.
Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA)
NAYA is encouraging young clients to attend drop-in hours, where cooling supplies will be available. Staff is working with people they know are sleeping outside, sharing information on cooling shelters; connecting people to water and food, and encouraging overnight shelter stays as needed.
New Avenues is offering air-conditioned spaces and cold drinks, as well as guidance on caring for yourself in severely hot weather.
Outside In will expand hours Wednesday, Aug. 2, and Thursday, Aug. 3, until 8 p.m. The agency is prepared to expand hours on other days as needed. A drop-in space at their day program will offer air-conditioned spaces to escape the heat, as well as hydration stations. Its health clinic will be open for those with heat-related health issues. Outside In and New Avenues are coordinating to ensure that day program hours will be open and accessible.
The downtown site is opening daily at noon. Staffers are sharing bottled water and showing movies in their air-conditioned chapel. This is expected to continue as long as the temperature is above 90.
Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES)
The shelter, at 30 SW 2nd, is air-conditioned. The dorm will open earlier, at 4 p.m., for shelter guests. The facility is providing bottled water as well as refillable water bottles. Staff also is connecting an ice machine for drinking water and to create cooling packs.
Most of Transition Projects’ shelters are already open to clients 24 hours. The Columbia shelter (in the former Shleifer Furniture building at 509 SE Grand), will open earlier, at 5 p.m., on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Staff will provide water, popsicles and sunscreen. The Bud Clark Commons day center, 655 NW Hoyt St., opened additional spaces and is offering activities and water.
Staffers are handing out water bottles.
CHANGES IN CAMPSITE CLEANUPS
Cleanup activities will be limited on days when temperatures reach 100 degrees, with campsites in busy rights of way remaining a priority. Crews will also carry bottled water and provide information on cooling centers and how to obtain rides to those facilities.
COOLING CENTERS OPEN
Multnomah County is opening cooling centers Tuesday, Aug. 1. Those centers will remain open through at least Monday, Aug. 7 (except for the Hollywood Center, which won’t be open Aug. 5), at the locations listed below.
Multnomah County Walnut Park Building, 5325 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Portland 97211. Eligibility: Seniors and people with disabilities and other health conditions. Pets allowed. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 5-9 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 2-9 p.m., Monday 5-9 p.m.
Multnomah County East Building, 600 NE 8th St., Gresham 97030. Eligibility: Seniors and people with disabilities and other health conditions. Pets allowed. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 5-9 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 2-9 p.m., Monday 5-9 p.m.
- Hollywood Senior Center, 1820 NE 40th Ave., Portland 97212. Eligibility: Seniors and people with disabilities and other health conditions. Pets allowed. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 5-9 p.m., Saturday closed, Sunday 2-9 p.m., Monday 5-9 p.m.
Multnomah County Mead Building, 421 SW 5th Ave., Portland. Hours: Weekdays, 5-9 p.m.; Weekends 2-9 p.m.
- Elm Court Center, 1032 SW Main St., Portland. Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 2-9 p.m.
In addition, community members are opening additional cooling stations:
American Legion Post 134, 2104 NE Alberta St., Portland 97211. Eligibility: Unrestricted. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Catholic Charities, 2740 SE Powell Blvd., Portland. Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
City of Corbett, 35800 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett. Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 2-8 p.m.
- City of Troutdale, 234 SW Kendall Court, Troutdale. Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 4-9 p.m.
Fairview City Hall, 1300 NE Village St., Fairview. Restrictions: Open to seniors, people with disabilities and other health conditions. Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave., Portland. Hours: Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland. Hours: Thursday, 2-9 p.m.
Transportation to cooling centers can be arranged by calling Ride Connection at 503-226-0700. Advance reservations are encouraged. All rides are free of charge.
Community members are encouraged to check on elderly or vulnerable friends and relatives. Call 911 if you see someone in distress. And sign up to receive email alerts about future cooling center openings.
Click to view a printable list