It’s the last week of winter, but it’s felt like summer these past few days as temperatures have reached the high 90s. Cooling centers across Los Angeles have been activated at libraries and recreational centers as the extreme heat is expected to continue until tomorrow.
The trouble for some, though, particularly in the unhoused community, is finding ways to get to those cooling centers. Fortunately, Hope the Mission has been working this week to get those in need and transport them to nearby cooling centers.
Marnie Delacruz is the director of access and engagement at Hope the Mission, which encompasses the nonprofit’s outreach teams. She said that, once cooling centers are activated, they are sent a list of available areas where these centers are located so the outreach teams know where to transport any homeless individual they find.
“Our outreach teams are out in the field daily, so they already engage with many of the unhoused neighbors within our communities,” Delacruz said, “so they’ll have participants that they’re already working with and they’ll go visit encampments that we know of.”
The challenge they sometimes face, though, is a lack of open communication. Due to the participants being homeless, some don’t have access to a phone or are unable to charge it. Nonetheless, Delacruz said that their outreach teams, who have built a rapport with the participants, will know where to find them.
Resources from the City
As the high heat began earlier in the week, Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference in downtown LA outside the Pecan Recreation Center to recommend that local residents take advantage of them and stay cool.
“As a former nurse and a physician assistant, I know first-hand that this heat is something to treat extremely seriously, and I’m making sure the city is preparing accordingly,” Bass said in an earlier statement. “Hundreds of city facilities, including libraries and recreation centers, are available for Angelenos to stay cool. Do not hesitate – get indoors and into air conditioning and protect yourself.”
She and other city officials advised Angelenos to take the time to check up on family and friends, especially seniors and families with small children.
The LA Homeless Services Authority is also conducting outreach by providing information on cooling center locations, where to find water bottles and other supplies.
The North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center is one of a few locations that the city has selected to operate under extended hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. exclusively to residents and their pets who are seeking relief from the heat. It’s located at 5301 Tujunga Ave.
To find cooling centers in your neighborhood, go to https://ready.lacounty.gov/heat/.