TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — As temperatures climb across Alabama, staying cool can be a challenge for people facing homelessness. Cooling centers are giving people a place to escape the heat.

When temperature are high, local libraries open their doors as cooling centers, giving people a place to escape the summer heat.

“As a general need when its warm in the summertime, the libraries are open as cooling center’s anytime the temperature gets 95 degrees or higher,” said Chessie Man, Executive Director of the Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless.

But those centers are not accessible after regular business hours. The mid Alabama coalition for the homeless and salvation army came together to solve that problem by opening additional cooling centers that remain open after regular business hours.

“The cooling centers we open those up in the evening hours when places of business are closed, so they don’t have access to go to the library or community centers,” explained Mann.

The Mid-Alabama Coalition for the Homeless works with partner agencies, churches, and community organizations to reach as many people as possible. Mann says social media and word of mouth are two of the biggest ways people hear about available resources.

“We were able to serve people who, a lot of them just needed a reprieve or break from the heat,” Mann told TrojanVision. “To be able to come in and get something cold to drink and just kind of cool off a bit.

“When you’re living in the street and you’re homeless and constantly exposed to the elements, that can be very challenging.”

Not only does the center provide people a place to cool down, it also provide drinks and snacks for those in need. Cooling centers are available when temperatures reach 95 degrees or higher, providing a temporary break from the summer heat.
These centers will be open to all in need until the temperature begins to drop.