Houston and Harris County are getting financial assistance from a local electricity retailer to operate more than 20 cooling centers throughout the summer months.
Twelve multi-service centers operated by the City of Houston, along with nine community centers in Harris County Precinct 2, are open as cooling centers through September. The centers have typically operated as cooling or warming centers during extreme weather events or widespread power outages.
As temperatures tick up for the summer, Houston City Council member Mario Castillo said heat is a serious matter that impacts every age range and people with medical conditions.
“We want people to use the cooling centers. It’s a way to seek relief,” he said. “It’s a way to get a break on your energy bill.”
The cooling centers are being equipped with water, snacks and tips on how to reduce your energy bill as part of Reliant Energy’s Beat the Heat program. A company spokesperson said Reliant also is donating $78,000 for more than 200 air-conditioning units to be distributed to Houston-area residents in need.
Reliant also is partnering with Community Family Centers to operate additional cooling centers.
Below is a list of the partnering cooling centers operated by the city and county:
CITY OF HOUSTON
Acres Homes Multi-Service Center: 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.
Alief Neighborhood Center: 11903 Bellaire Blvd.
Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center: 6402 Market St.
Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center: 4014 Market St.
Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center: 3810 W. Fuqua St.
Kashmere Multi-Service Center: 4802 Lockwood Dr.
Magnolia Multi-Service Center: 7037 Capitol St.
Northeast Multi-Service Center: 9720 Spaulding St.
Southwest Multi- Service Center: 6400 High Star Dr.
Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center: 4410 Reed Rd.
Third Ward Multi-Service Center: 3611 Ennis St.
West End Multi-Service Center: 170 Heights Blvd.
HARRIS COUNTY
Bay Area Community Center: 5002 East NASA Pkwy. in Seabrook
East Harris County Activity Center: 7340 Spencer Hwy. in Pasadena
Felix Baldree Community Center: 13828 Corpus Christi St.
Hardy Community Center: 11901 West Hardy Rd.
JD Walker Community Center: 7613 Wade Rd. in Baytown
Leonel J. Castillo Community Center: 2101 South St.
Mangum-Howell Community Center: 2500 Frick Rd.
Martin Flukinger Community Center: 16003 Lorenzo St. in Channelview
Deputy Darren Almendarez Community Center: 10918 1/2 Bentley St.
