Heat and COVID-19 closures mean hardship for Pierce County’s homeless, elderly

On Monday, Washington experienced its highest temperatures of the year, with Seattle reaching 94 degrees and Olympia soaring to 98 degrees.

The heat is causing issues for those experiencing homelessness, the elderly and others who are at risk for heat-related health issues. People can usually find relief in cooling centers, but that’s often not an option now because of COVID-19.

In the past, cooling centers have included movie theaters, malls and large box stores with air conditioning, according to Megan Snow, community relations specialist for the City of Tacoma.

Snow said many of these public facilities are closed due to COVID-19, meaning there are limited options for those who are sensitive to heat and don’t have access to air conditioning or fans in a private home.

The city’s Homeless Outreach Team will be passing out water bottles to people experiencing homelessness for the next two weeks, Snow said. Neighborhood and Community Services has reached out to local shelters, including Beacon; The Salvation Army; LIHI/60th and McKinley TEMS; Nativity House; the city’s stability site and the Tacoma Rescue Mission to coordinate efforts to distribute water.

“To meet the need, NCS has ordered 40 cases of water for delivery to those shelters and will adjust as needed,” Snow said in an email.

Amanda Paschall, senior director of community engagement at Tacoma Rescue Mission, emphasized the importance of providing water. Paschall said her organization has been addressing the heat by having teams pass out extra water to people experiencing homelessness.

People with homes should ventilate indoor areas at night when the temperature drops, Snow said.

Dale Phelps, COVID-19 communications lead at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, suggested people cool off outside while staying vigilant about social distancing and masks.

Snow echoed Phelps, saying these guidelines are key if people are spending time outside to escape the heat.

“If people are going outside to find cooling options on the waterfront, et cetera, we encourage everyone to follow the governor’s orders to wear face coverings in and outdoors and to adhere to the social distancing of 6 feet,” Snow said. “We also remind people that the City of Tacoma and Pierce County are still in Phase 2, which outlines gatherings should be no more than 5 people.”