Miyoshi Price
•6/23/2026
FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — As Southwest Florida continues to endure dangerous heat and triple-digit heat index values, The Salvation Army of Fort Myers is opening its doors to provide relief for people experiencing homelessness.
The Salvation Army opened its Life Navigation Building (LIFNAV) at 2450 Edison Avenue as a temporary cooling station Monday in coordination with Lee County partner agencies. The center will remain open through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
During those hours, people seeking relief from the heat can access air conditioning, showers, cold beverages, meals and shelter resources.
"With an extended period of heat settling in, The Salvation Army is working collaboratively with the Lee County Department of Human & Veteran Services and other partner agencies to provide a cooling station to those experiencing homelessness," said David Asselin, Development Director for The Salvation Army of Fort Myers.
The initiative comes as temperatures continue to climb across Southwest Florida, creating potentially dangerous conditions for people who spend much of their day outdoors.
"We want to be able to provide them a place where they can come in, they can cool off here at the Center of Hope location," said Terryn Baah-Acheamfour, Director of Program Services for The Salvation Army. "We allow them to take a shower, we give them a bag meal and a cold drink and just allow them to sit and cool."
Anyone seeking assistance can simply walk into the facility and speak with staff. No appointment is required.
Staff members will determine whether someone is looking for a place to cool off for the day or if they are interested in longer-term shelter options.
On the first day of the cooling station operation, Salvation Army leaders quickly learned the need stretches beyond Fort Myers.
While only a few people sought assistance at the Fort Myers location Monday, one of the organization's community partners in Lehigh Acres reported that approximately 20 people showed up seeking help.
"So far, the need we have seen, we've had a couple people come to our Fort Myers location, but we were contacted by one of our partners in Lehigh who stated they had about 20 individuals show up today," Baah-Acheamfour said.
After learning about the demand in Lehigh Acres, The Salvation Army plans to deploy its canteen van to its Lehigh location on Tuesday.
The mobile outreach effort will provide cold drinks, snacks and other resources directly to people seeking relief from the heat. Those interested in shelter services can also be transported to the organization's Center of Hope in Fort Myers.
The organization says it is also hearing reports of increased need in Bonita Springs.
"Right now, what we're seeing is an increase in the rural area out there in Lehigh," Baah-Acheamfour said. "Not only the Lehigh area, but even also in Bonita Springs, we're getting reports because they are in outlying areas."
Officials say the extreme heat can be especially dangerous for people already dealing with health issues, limited access to medication, food insecurity and unstable housing.
"These are our neighbors, these are human beings, and we want to be able to give them a reprieve from the heat," Baah-Acheamfour said. "When you're dealing with those who already have ongoing medical issues, not getting the medication they need, not sleeping properly, and not having food, that creates a more sense of urgency."
She added that prolonged exposure to the heat can quickly become life-threatening.
"Now you're looking at possible fatalities because of being in the heat," she said.
For Neil Koruba, who is working to get back on his feet, the services provide more than just a temporary escape from the weather.
"Tremendously, every way," Koruba said when asked how the resources have helped him. "I mean, it's better than being on the streets. I'm too old to be on the streets. Somebody like me, I just turned 60, so it's a blessing. This place is a blessing."
Koruba said he has lived in Florida for about a year and a half and believes this June has felt hotter than last summer.
Without resources like cooling stations, he worries the consequences could be deadly.
"If you don't have a place to stay, you're not going to last long," Koruba said. "You're going to have health problems, problems of strokes. Who knows?"
He said homelessness is not always the result of poor choices and that many people simply experience difficult circumstances.
"It can get somebody back up on their feet that just had a battle of bad luck," Koruba said. "So they can get back up on their feet and get on with their lives."
Visitors who stop by the cooling station can also receive a take-away bag containing essentials. According to The Salvation Army, the bags may include sandwiches, fruit snacks, bottled water, juice and hygiene items such as socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
The Salvation Army is accepting donations of bottled water, towels, toiletries, clothing and monetary contributions to help sustain the effort.
"In a time when many individuals and families are facing hardship, The Salvation Army remains dedicated to providing support and hope to our neighbors in need," Asselin said. "We are thankful for the generous donors and volunteers who help make this possible."
For more information about the cooling station or ways to help, contact The Salvation Army of Fort Myers or visit its website.
