Columbia residents beat the heat
Charity organizations and city programs provide free air conditioning.
Published July 7, 2009
When the sun beats down on Columbia, people who can't afford air conditioning turn to charity organizations, city programs or homeless shelters for help. The Voluntary Action Center, one of these charity groups, hands out fans to those most vulnerable to the heat.
"We've heard from people who say they couldn't make it without it," VAC social worker Ron Schmidt said. "They just sit in front of it all day. If you don't have air conditioning, a fan is worth its weight in gold to you."
Schmidt said the VAC had given out more than 130 fans this summer, compared to 108 last summer. Schmidt said to qualify for a fan from the VAC, people must be income eligible and their household must include someone who is at least 60 years old, has a disability, is a child or is pregnant.
On especially hot days, people pick up fans and window air-conditioning units from the Salvation Army as soon as they are donated, Salvation Army Regional Coordinator Maj. Kendall Mathews said.
"I've seen some go within two minutes," Mathews said. "People need those units."
But in the sweltering heat, Columbia residents might find a fan alone isn't enough, said Geni Alexander, Columbia/Boone County Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman.
"When it's 100 degrees outside and the heat index is 110, that fan is just going to keep moving that hot, humid air," Alexander said. "We would encourage them to visit one of the cooling centers during the day."
The department also provides two one-time utility assistance programs for Boone County residents who can't afford to pay their air conditioning bills. The Heat, Energy and Light Program, which is designed for low-income families with kids, and the Citizens Assisting Seniors and Handicapped program for the low-income elderly and disabled help offset cooling costs. Unfortunately, resources for these programs are limited.
"We do run out of money each month," Alexander said.
Columbia Fire Department Battalion Chief Steven Sapp said because Columbia Parks and Recreation offers free or reduced price swimming and splash parks, lower-income people don't often break open fire hydrants to cool off as they do in some other cities. Both the Flat Branch Park Sprayground and Stephens Lake Park are free to the public, and the Douglass Family Aquatic Center pool charges only a dollar for admission.
St. Francis House Director Steve Jacobs said the homeless often escape the day's heat at public libraries and at the Interfaith Day Center.
"When someone shows up and they're hot and tired and sweaty, we just let them in," Jacobs said. "There's been a couple of times when someone's showed up suffering from heat exhaustion, but we've given them fluids and a place to rest."
Alexander said Boone County has seen nine cases of heat-related illnesses this summer.
For the homeless population, Jacobs said alcoholism can be a problem in the heat.
"They get dehydrated and are more liable to suffer from heat-related illnesses than most folks," Jacobs said.
Matthews said during periods of intense heat, the Salvation Army Harbor House adds 15 "hot cots" to their 45-cot shelter. If the Harbor House runs out of room and the homeless can't find another place to sleep, Mathews said the Salvation Army would open other facilities for them.
"We will make sure they have a place to stay," Mathews said. "Many people come to us in despair, and we want to give them hope for the future."
