Hundreds of unhoused residents try to cool down at Stockton homeless shelter

HYDRATED OUTDOORS. NOW GO FILL THEM UP RIGHT NOW. OH, OKAY. OKAY. DAYS INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS. IT’S BEEN A TRUE BLESSING TO ME. SAINT MARY’S DINING HALL IN STOCKTON IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE COMING INTO THEIR BUILDING. I ACTUALLY FIND MYSELF HERE FOR THE HOTTER POINTS OF THE DAY, LIKE LUNCH AND DINNER. UM, I’VE BEEN HERE QUITE OFTEN FOR THOSE TWO A LOT A LOT MORE SO THAN USUAL. THEY CONEY BARRETT A SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT THE HOMELESS SHELTER, SAYS THEY’RE KEEPING THEIR DOORS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY SO PEOPLE CAN COOL DOWN. FOR ME, 95 IS ALREADY HOT, SO WE DO OPEN IT. WE KEEP IT OPEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 4:00 TO DINNERTIME, AND IT SHUTS DOWN AT 6:00. IT’S REALLY HELPFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO COME SOMEWHERE AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TEMPERATURE IS CONTROLLED AND THE CLIMATE’S A LOT COOLER IN HERE. SO THAT’S A BIG BREAK FROM BEING OUTSIDE. WHILE THE CENTER IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, NAVARETTE SAYS THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION IS THE ELDERLY, ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS, THE ONES THAT ARE STAYING IN THE ENCAMPMENTS THEY ARE USING THIS CENTER MORE IN THE MORNING. THEY START ARRIVING IN THE MORNINGS. UH, I WISH THERE WERE MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT THAT BACK AREA THAT WE CAN UTILIZE. AND THE SHELTER HERE IS ASKING FOR DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY. THEY SAY THAT ANYTHING REALLY HELPS, BUT DURING THESE HEAT, THIS HEAT WAVE, THEY ARE ASKING THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY TO CONSIDER DONATING SOME WATER. WE ARE LIVE IN STOCKTON, MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. WELL, IT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE TO BE THERE BEHIND YOU. SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE CITY IS DOING. IF ANYTHING, TO KEEP THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY SAFE. THERE. EGGLESTON I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE WITH TODAY DID TELL ME THAT THEY FELT VERY BLESSED TO BE RECEIVING THIS ASSISTANCE FROM THIS SHELTER. AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY OF STOCKTON, I SPOKE TO THAT SPOKESPERSON. SHE TOLD ME THAT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE FOCUSING ON DOING THAT OUTREACH AND OFFERING THOSE SERVICES TO THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. DURING THIS HEAT WAVE, THE CITY OF STOCKTON RIGHT NOW IS FOCUSING MORE ON KEEPING FOUR COOLING CENTERS OPEN, TWO OF WHICH WILL STAY OPEN DURING THE 4TH OF JULY. OKAY, SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT

As triple-digit temperatures continue to scorch the region, hundreds are seeking refuge from the dangerous heat at St. Mary's Dining Room in Stockton.Currently, more than 200 people are spending the night — with 76 of those being children."During our three meals, I would say between 700 and 800 daily. That's in the dining room alone. That's not counting the resource center visits that we have every day. They're pretty booked," said Teo Navarrete, the senior director of operations at St. Mary's.Navarrete said that a lot of the people staying in the building for longer periods are seniors — one of their most vulnerable populations.To address the growing need, the shelter also installed water spigots outside.Extreme heat poses severe health risks, especially for those without access to air conditioning or adequate hydration."Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness that occurs when the body loses the ability to regulate temperature, and it can cause a variety of physical problems such as confusion, headache, lightheadedness," said Matthew Kiefer, an emergency room physician at St. John's Medical Center.For 26-year-old Jeremy Rodriguez, the shelter is a relief from his car, where he's been living on and off for a few years. But despite waking up in puddles of sweat, spending the night in a shelter is too risky."It's always a worry of someone breaking into my car and stealing all my life. That's my safe haven, pretty much," Rodriguez said.The city of Stockton has also activated four cooling centers — two of which, will stay open on the Fourth of July during peak hours.• Arnold Rue Community Center – 5758 Lorraine Ave., Stockton 95210 and Stribley Community Center – 1760 E. Sonora St., Stockton 95205 - Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. -Thursday, July 4, and Sunday, July 7, noon – 7 p.m.• Van Buskirk Community Center – 734 Houston Ave., Stockton 95206 and Seifert Community Center – 128 W. Benjamin Holt Drive, Stockton 95207 - Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Closed Thursday, July 4, and Sunday, July 7Find a full list of cooling centers across the meeting here.

STOCKTON, Calif. —

As triple-digit temperatures continue to scorch the region, hundreds are seeking refuge from the dangerous heat at St. Mary's Dining Room in Stockton.

Currently, more than 200 people are spending the night — with 76 of those being children.

"During our three meals, I would say between 700 and 800 [people] daily. That's in the dining room alone. That's not counting the resource center visits that we have every day. They're pretty booked," said Teo Navarrete, the senior director of operations at St. Mary's.

Navarrete said that a lot of the people staying in the building for longer periods are seniors — one of their most vulnerable populations.

To address the growing need, the shelter also installed water spigots outside.

Extreme heat poses severe health risks, especially for those without access to air conditioning or adequate hydration.

"Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness that occurs when the body loses the ability to regulate temperature, and it can cause a variety of physical problems such as confusion, headache, lightheadedness," said Matthew Kiefer, an emergency room physician at St. John's Medical Center.

For 26-year-old Jeremy Rodriguez, the shelter is a relief from his car, where he's been living on and off for a few years. But despite waking up in puddles of sweat, spending the night in a shelter is too risky.

"It's always a worry of someone breaking into my car and stealing all my life. That's my safe haven, pretty much," Rodriguez said.

The city of Stockton has also activated four cooling centers — two of which, will stay open on the Fourth of July during peak hours.

• Arnold Rue Community Center – 5758 Lorraine Ave., Stockton 95210 and Stribley Community Center – 1760 E. Sonora St., Stockton 95205
- Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-Thursday, July 4, and Sunday, July 7, noon – 7 p.m.

• Van Buskirk Community Center – 734 Houston Ave., Stockton 95206 and Seifert Community Center – 128 W. Benjamin Holt Drive, Stockton 95207
- Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Closed Thursday, July 4, and Sunday, July 7

Find a full list of cooling centers across the meeting here.

Hundreds of unhoused residents try to cool down at Stockton homeless shelter

Share

Share

Share

Top Picks