When Summer Heat Turns Deadly
Happy Fourth of July! I hope you're enjoying the holiday with family and friends, sharing good food and pausing to celebrate the gift of life we so often take for granted.
The summer heat has officially arrived. Last week, our team was out in Chelsea Park where hundreds of guests crowded around our drink stations and Guest Services tent, grateful for something cold to drink and a chance to talk with someone who could help create an action plan for their most urgent needs.
Some guests needed phones so they could work with our partners at NYLAG to access a safe haven bed, a low-barrier shelter with just one or two roommates and, hopefully, a place to cool off when temperatures spike. Others needed new socks, t-shirts, and underwear. Nobody wanted to wait in the heat, but when the needs outpace the resources, waiting becomes unavoidable.
It might seem like winter would be the most dangerous time for our unhoused neighbors, but in my experience, summer can be far worse. And the data agrees. According to the National Weather Service, extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. each year than hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes combined. People experiencing homelessness are up to 200 times more likely to die from heat-related illnesses than those who are housed.
Imagine facing days over 90 degrees with nowhere to go, no air conditioning, and nowhere to refill a water bottle or rest out of the sun. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke can become deadly fast. And relentless heat can deepen anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles, pushing people closer to crisis.
In the summer, drop-in centers and public spaces often reduce hours or capacity, leaving fewer places to cool down. Something as simple as a cold drink, clean clothes, or a phone to call for shelter becomes a lifeline. And behind each request is a person whose story matters.
That's why City Relief launched our summer LemonAID campaign! At every outreach, we provide cold water and fresh lemonade because we know that proper hydration can mean the difference between life and death in extreme heat. But we can't do this alone.
Here's how you can make a life-saving difference:
Option 1: Make a Direct Donation - Your gift immediately stocks our buses with essential supplies and keeps our teams on the streets when the heat becomes unbearable.
Option 2: Host Your Own LemonAID Stand! - Amplify your impact by organizing a fundraiser! Set up a traditional lemonade stand in your neighborhood, or create a virtual online fundraiser to rally your friends and family.
Join the movement and help us raise $100,000 for our friends in need over the summer! You can learn more and get involved at cityrelief.org/lemonaid
Because together, we can end homelessness.
With Gratitude,
Josiah Haken
City Relief, CEO
