'We're here to help': Sacramento community steps up to help unhoused residents during heat wave

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AT 11. I’M GULSTAN DART AND I’M EDIE LAMBERT. THIS WAS NOW THE NINTH DAY OF A HEAT WAVE THAT’S BEEN BAKING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND WILL BE ARE EXPECTING A VERY SMALL BREAK TOMORROW. WE DO HAVE MORE EXTREME HEAT IN THE FORECAST THIS WEEK. WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THE WEATHER AND ITS IMPACTS. TONIGHT WE START WITH KCRA 3’S KAROLINA ESTRADA. SHE SPOKE WITH GROUPS WHO ARE HELPING HOMELESS PEOPLE SURVIVE THE HEAT. YEAH. EDIE. SO THE MAIN GOAL IS TO KEEP PEOPLE HYDRATED, FED AND COOL. THEY’RE DOING THIS THROUGH DIFFERENT WAYS. ALL THAT ARE CONVENIENT TO THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. THEY SAY ALL OF THIS WITH THE GOAL OF SAVING LIVES. AS SACRAMENTO FACES A DANGEROUS HEAT WAVE, THE SHOWER, THE SOAP. WE HAVE A LITTLE STOOL HERE, HERE FOR IF THEY WANT TO SIT DOWN, MARK LYTLE IS STEPPING UP TO GIVE THOSE WITHOUT A HOME SOME RELIEF. WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY’RE DESERVING OF A SHOWER BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS EVERY DAY HE BRINGS HOPE TO MORE THAN 100 UNHOUSED RESIDENTS THROUGH HIS FREE MOBILE SHOWER PROGRAM, SHOWERS BY TOUCHSTONE. I’VE HAD PEOPLE SIT DOWN AND JUST START CRYING BECAUSE EVERYTHING OKAY? LIKE I HAVEN’T HAD A SHOWER IN A YEAR. IT HAS ALSO BECOME A RESOURCE TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE HEAT WAVE. I’M HOPING THAT SOME OF THESE ARE TOO HOT. THEY NEED SOME REST OR THEY NEED SOME COOLING OFF. THEY’LL COME OVER HERE AND SEE ME AND MAYBE WE’LL HELP ONE PERSON MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER DAY. BUT HE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE TAKING ACTION. COME INSIDE. IT’S FREE ON BROADWAY, A COMMUNITY COOLING CENTER OPENED. WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A REAL NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE STREETS. THEY DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO A COOL SPOT TO ADEQUATE WATER HERE. THEY PROVIDE WATER, FOOD AND COOL AIR. SINCE LAST TUESDAY, CASEY THOMPSON SAYS MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED BY. THEY’RE JUST VERY, VERY HAPPY TO JUST BE OUT OF THE HEAT. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PLACED SEVERAL BINS WITH ICE AND WATER AROUND THE CITY. WE HAVE ICE AND WATER AND WHAT WE’VE DONE IS MADE THOSE LOCATIONS PUBLIC SO THE COMMUNITY CAN DRIVE AROUND AND REFILL THESE THESE HYDRATION STATIONS. CRYSTAL SANCHEZ WITH THE SACRAMENTO HOMELESS UNION SAYS MORE ACTION IS NEEDED TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THIS DANGEROUS TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT. WHAT’S BEING EXPRESSED TO ME A LOT IS PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO DIE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS HEAT, BUT FOR NOW, SACRAMENTO’S COMMUNITY HAS COME FORWARD IN A BIG WAY. WE’RE HERE TO HELP. THAT’S IT. BOTTOM LINE. AND THE SHOWERS ARE AVAILABLE ALL YEAR. HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZERS OF THE COMMUNITY COOLING CENTER DO SAY THEY ONLY EXPECT TO BE OPEN UNTIL THE REST OF THE WEEK.