TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board wants to make it as easy as possible for the area homeless population to stay cool as a Midwest heat wave brings record-high temperatures to the Toledo area.
The TLCHB helps coordinate services for organizations across the county that help homeless people. The board's interim executive director, Julie Embree, said that group is in the hundreds.
"According to a (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) definition, which means you're living on a street or an uninhabitable place, there are about 550 people," Embree said.
Organizations such as Cherry Street Mission Ministries are opening their doors to give people a place to cool down and stay safe.
"Every person that walks through that door is on their own individual journey," said Candace Buckley, vice president of Program Services for Cherry Street Mission Ministries. "We just want to send a strong message that we are here to support the community at the time that they need us the most."
Buckley said the mission has helped about 230 people so far this week.
Some people are there just for a quick break from the heat, while others need more.
"This is the judgment-free zone," Buckley said. "Come as you are, we'll meet you where you're at."
Other organizations are pitching in too to help cool down Toledo, like Grace Lutheran Church on Monroe Street.
"We saw a need, and we just jumped on it," said Nancy Lockard, vice president of Ministries. "We knew that there would be a need for people who were homeless or needed to get out of the heat, so that's why we put this together for today."
At the church, volunteers offered those in need a selection of drinks, snacks and a friendly face to talk to.
"Everyone deserves that compassion," Lockard said. "Everyone deserves the care and if we can even help one, two, three people- that's what we want to do."