Houston is gearing up for another scorcher of a summer, and City Hall is trying to make sure residents have somewhere cool to land. On Monday at 10 a.m., Mayor John Whitmire will join Reliant officials to celebrate the opening of 20 Beat the Heat cooling centers across the city, offering short-term, air-conditioned relief along with cooling devices and bill-help options as temperatures climb. The ribbon-cutting is set for the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center and will feature city and health department leaders.
According to the City of Houston, Reliant is providing more than 300 air-conditioning units and other cooling devices and donating in excess of $80,000 to equip the 20 centers. The announcement notes that the launch will also include safety tips and care packages for extreme heat, plus Reliant bill-payment assistance and flexible payment options for qualified customers.
What Reliant Is Providing
Reliant's Beat the Heat program supplies portable air conditioners, box fans and other cooling gear to community locations and eligible households. The company says the program prioritizes seniors, people with disabilities and families without the means to cool their homes, and it maintains an online list of participating Houston locations at Reliant.
Where to Find Cooling Centers
The ribbon-cutting will take place at the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center, 6402 Market St., which will be one of the city multi-service centers open to residents this summer. The effort continues a multi-year partnership between the city and Reliant; local coverage last year reported the program included more than 20 centers and a roughly $78,000 donation for over 200 A/C units, as reported by Click2Houston. For the full list of participating sites, the city and Reliant direct residents to the program page and the mayor's announcement.
How to Get Help
Residents can sign up for AlertHouston notifications, call 3-1-1 for information on center hours and eligibility, or visit the Beat the Heat page to learn how to apply for a portable unit. Reliant also points customers to its CARE financial assistance program and recommends that anyone needing bill help call 2-1-1 for agency support; see Reliant for details.
Officials expected at the opening include Mayor Whitmire, Dr. Theresa Tran of the Houston Health Department, Bill Clayton of Reliant and Council Member Mario Castillo, and a Spanish-language spokesperson will be available for interviews. Organizers say the centers will provide water, care packages and energy-advice resources to help residents manage both the heat and their energy bills.
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