Harrisburg, York agencies offer resources for unhoused during extreme heat

Officials in Harrisburg, Lebanon and York are opening cooling centers and expanding outreach to protect unhoused residents during extreme heat

• Haley O'Brien
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Haley O'Brien is WITF's Community Impact Reporter. She enjoys exploring Pennsylvania's diverse communities and inspiring audiences through multimedia storytelling. Haley grew up in Scranton and worked in public media in Northeast Pa. and the Lehigh Valley before moving to the state capitol.

As Central Pennsylvania endures another stretch of dangerous heat, social service agencies and local governments are expanding outreach and opening cooling centers to help unhoused residents stay safe. 

In downtown York on Thursday morning, outreach coordinators with Friends and Neighbors of Pennsylvania walked city streets handing out water and connecting people with available services.  

With temperatures expected to approach100 degrees and an extreme heat warning issued through Friday, they packed extra water, cooling towels and socks. 

Dylan Sautter and Alex Philo conduct outreach every morning before the Beacon Resource Center opens at 12:30 p.m.  

“It will open at 11:30 today for a cooling station,” Philo said Thursday morning. “We had about 120 people yesterday.”  

 

They invite unhoused individuals to the resource center to ensure they’ll have a place to go during the hottest time of the day.  

“They’re not asking for anything unreasonable,” said Sautter after stopping at Our Daily Bread, a York soup kitchen, to shake hands and offer water.  

In Harrisburg, Bethesda Mission has also expanded its services.  

The organization’s 99-bed resource center for men is full, but Executive Director Bill Christian said the facility is welcoming anyone seeking relief from the heat during the daytime hours. 

“We’ll feed them and take care of them during the day,” he said. “We’re going to keep it open until the temperatures come back down.” 

Bethesda’s Mobile Mission is also visiting several locations throughout Harrisburg to distribute water, food and other supplies. 

“There is a certain segment of the homeless that are not going to come in,” Christian said. “But we still want to try to service them the best we can.” 

The City of Harrisburg set up cooling stations at senior centers, libraries and churches. Water and a cool place to relax will be offered at each location.  

Dauphin County’s Area Agency on Aging is offering air conditioner units and helping residents obtain assistance through the state’s LIHEAP program.  

Cooling centers in Harrisburg, York and Lebanon are listed below. 

 

Cooling Centers in Harrisburg 

McCormick Riverfront Library 

10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Through July 2 

 

Madeline Olewine Memorial Library 

10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Through July 2 

 

B’nai B’rith Senior Center 

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri. 

 

Heinz-Menaker Senior Center 

8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Tues. – Fri.  

 

Jewish Community Center 

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

Tues. and Thurs. 

 

Friendship Senior Center 

9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri. 

 

 

Cooling Centers in York 

Crispus Attacks Association 

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri. 

 

White Rose Senior Center 

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri.  

 

Yorktown Senior Center  

7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri. 

 

Lifepath Christian Ministries 

11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Every day 

 

The Beacon Resource Center, Friends & Neighbors of PA 

12:30 – 3 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri.  

 

Martin Library 

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thurs. and Fri. 

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mon. – Thurs. 

 

Cooling Centers in Lebanon 

Lebanon City Hall Atrium 

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri. 

 

Step into Life Ministries 

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

Mon. – Thurs. 

 

Lebanon Family YMCA 

5 a.m. – 8 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri. 

 

Lebanon Salvation Army 

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Mon. – Fri.