Lee County offers free heat relief for homeless residents this summer

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— Lee County Human & Veteran Services is continuing its partnership with the Lee County Library System, LeeTran and United Way Resiliency Hubs to offer heat-related assistance to people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations this summer.

Lee County Library locations offer a cool respite during daytime temperature highs. Operating hours and a full list of locations are available at www.leegov.com/library/branches.

United Way Resiliency Hubs are also available throughout the county for people seeking relief from the heat. Resiliency Hubs that are typically open include:

• Goodwill Industries in Charleston Park 
• Literacy Council Gulf Coast in Bonita Springs
• Goodwill Industries West Cape Coral
• Children's Advocacy Center of SWFL - Palm Beach Boulevard
• Community Cooperative
• Franklin Park Elementary
• The Heights Center, Pine Manor Improvement Association
• Tice United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries
• Lehigh Community Services
• Beacon of Hope Pine Island
• F.I.S.H of Sanibel-Captiva

The county's Housing, Outreach and Treatment teams will continue work throughout July as needed to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness to provide resources and distribute hot-weather supplies. These supplies include drinking water and cooling wraps.

Lee County Transit periodically may provide stand-by cooling buses, depending on bus availability and heat. Individuals experiencing homelessness can download the free Lee County Human & Veteran Services' Reach app from the Apple App Store or Google Play to keep up with heat-relief related services.

App users should sign up to receive push alerts to receive timely updates. Lee County's coordinated entry phone line is available to connect individuals to services and resources at 239-533-7996 or www.leegov.com/dhs.