BOISE, Idaho — With high temperatures expected to be close to 100 degrees in the Treasure Valley this weekend, Interfaith Sanctuary in downtown Boise is working to set up areas where unhoused people can cool down.
Most guests spend their days outside on the back patio, waiting to check into the shelter. Thankfully, Executive Director Jodi Peterson-Stigers said they could buy more shade sails for the summer because of a grant.
Fans are running and misters are also on the way, she said. However, she said donations for certain summer supplies are low — including bottled water and sunscreen.
Peterson-Stigers said the heat can be debilitating, even deadly. As a low-barrier shelter, Interfaith only runs programming inside during the day.
"We have to be ready as a community to be able to provide more shade, provide more hydration, provide more safe places inside to help them stay healthy during this time of year," she said.
Jon Lawson, who became homeless earlier this year after losing his job and running out of savings, said high temperatures heat are always concerning.
"Most of us are found in direct sun for most of the day," he said. "I've started noticing a little spot on the back of my head ... and just out of nowhere, it was like, I started noticing that my skin, my skin just starts kind of turning brown."
He said once, when it was only about 60 degrees, he got a third-degree burn.
"I was outside in the sun for about five hours," he said. "And for a lot of people, they're like, well, just go inside. But there's really not a lot of places for the homeless community."
Lawson encourages people to keep bottled water in their cars to give to people on the street.
"Don't throw it at them," he said. "But you know, hand them a bottle of water, give them a word of encouragement, something. Because a lot of times, they just don't know how much that can help somebody."
Peterson-Stigers said people can drop donations off or have them delivered to the shelter. She also encourages people to donate to other shelters downtown Boise or in their community.
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