JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City Rescue Mission announced it will open its cooling center Saturday morning due to high temperatures forecast over the next couple of days.
According to the organization, the opening of the cooling center helps those in need stay safe as temperatures begin to rise, and moving forward, the center could be open more often.
Any time temperatures reach 95 degrees or hotter by 11 a.m., City Rescue Mission’s staff will welcome people who are experiencing homelessness to the cooling center so they can get out of the heat.
Once people check in they will get hot food. They’ll also be offered the chance to shower and get clean clothes.
Paul Stasi, the executive director, said they’re doing that to ensure Jacksonville’s vulnerable population is safe.
“Doing this is so critical because often when, first of all, heat exposure is dangerous, just like cold exposure. But often someone is experiencing homelessness they have some kind of medical conditions too so we just want to make sure everybody is taken care of,” Stasi said.
The executive director said that if people attend the center and need help with other services they provide, they can help them get that assistance.
“We’re open all the time, every day and we have a shelter care that serves anyone who’s homeless all the time and our beds are full,” Stasi said. “We’re just taking in extra people so they can get in and get cool, watch some TV, play some board games, take a shower and, just get out of the heat.”
The cooling center is located at the New Life Inn Center on 234 West State Street in Jacksonville.