Cooling and Warming Centers/Spaces

The major difference between cooling and warming versus weather respite centers (WRC) are that WRCs are 24/7 operations whereas warming/cooling centers are intended as a partial day or overnight respite during peak warm and cool weather.

Centers - the language centers is used for physical brick and mortar locations
Spaces - the language spaces is used for mobile pop-up cooling and warming

Cooling Center: Extreme heat is a major public health concern in California. Exposure to extreme heat can cause a variety of health problems, including heat stroke and death. Cooling centers are a cool site or air-conditioned facility designed to provide relief and protection from heat. They are used by many communities to protect health during heat events.

Warming Center: Extreme cold, rain and wind are major public health concerns in California. Exposure to these conditions can cause a variety of health problems, including hypothermia and death. Warming centers are a warm site or heated facility designed to provide relief and protection from the cold. They are used by many communities to protect health during cold, rain and wind events.

We understand there are a number of weather related events that produce disproportionate health and safety impacts to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness inclusive of extreme rain, cold, wind, heat and air quality. Historically, Sacramento County has mobilized its resources around response to extreme cold and heat. We are exploring opportunities to expand our programs to support broader activation such as air quality, flooding and other environmental disasters. This is not an exhaustive list and community partners would be asked to activate upon County communicated activation thresholds.

Location Considerations

Mobile Spaces: DHSH is interested in potential partners that would be able to offer pop-up warming and cooling spaces to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness that are unable to access traditional warming and cooling centers. This would require setting up a mobile warming and/or cooling location closely adjacent to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
1. Land: Partners looking to provide mobile cooling and warming spaces would need to locate land owners that are amenable to temporary mobile cooling and warming. DHSH is able to provide some technical assistance, communication and coordination around potential opportunities to partner with County land. Any use of private land, or non-County government space must include a description of liability mitigation and premises insurance on the part of the awarded provider(s).
Brick and Mortar: DHSH is interested in supporting community partners with existing facilities that can provide respite during warming and cooling events for persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Any use of private land, or non-County government space must include a description of liability mitigation and premises insurance on the part of the awarded provider(s).
1. County Facilities: To note, the County has a number of County operated buildings that we would be open to dialoguing around partnership with community-based organization should a physical facility be a challenge as you consider applying.

Program Requirements

Site/Facility
- Facilities are not required to provide an additional space for warming/cooling if they can expand access to existing space available within a facility, this is also allowed for the program. It does not have to be a net new space.
- Warming: Nightly warming must be provided in a facility that is safe, sanitary, accessible, and meet all applicable building, safety and health codes. Identified sites may include, but are not limited to, faith-based facilities, existing shelter sites, or leased commercial spaces to operate the Warming Center. Regardless of facility-type, each location must have the capacity to comfortably provide a warming center to a minimum of twenty five (25) participants per night.
- Cooling:
  - Brick and Mortar: Daily cooling must be provided in a facility that is safe, sanitary, accessible, and meet all applicable building, safety and health codes. Identified sites may include, but are not limited to, faith-based facilities, existing shelter sites, or leased commercial spaces to operate the Cooling Center. Regardless of facility-type, each location must have the capacity to comfortably provide a cooling center to a minimum of twenty five (25) participants per day.
  - Mobile: Daily cooling must be provided in close geographic proximity to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness and must have the capacity to comfortably provide a cooling location to a minimum of twenty five (25) participants per day.
Intake Services
- DHSH's intention for the program is to serve any person or family adversely impacted by inclement weather within Sacramento County. Using a low barrier philosophy, the center will allow simple intake and entry to ensure that these cooling and warming spaces can be readily accessed by the community.
- Referrals may come in from a variety of access points including self-referrals and will be coming from a broad reach throughout the community.
Basic Shelter Requirements
- Hours
  - Warming: The center is expected to be operational from, at a minimum, 5:00 PM until 9:00 AM.
  - Cooling: The center is expected to be operational from, at a minimum, noon - 8PM.
  - To note: at a minimum means we are open to considering longer hours than stated above.
- Facility Resources
  - Warming: Awarded provider(s) are responsible for ensuring each participant is provided with a clean cot and have access to reasonably private toilets and wash basins with hot and cold running water. To ensure cleanliness, awarded provider(s) must bag and store sleeping bags daily.
  - Cooling:
    - Brick and Mortar: Each guest must be provided with a chair and have access to reasonably private toilets and wash basins with hot and cold running water.
    - Mobile: Each guest must be provided with a chair. The mobile cooling pop-up "facility" will at minimum offer a shade structure in close geographic proximity to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Meals & Water
- Warming: The awarded provider must be responsible for ensuring each participant is offered a dinner and breakfast meal. In lieu of a breakfast meal, provider(s) may provide participants with a “sack lunch” for consumption later. Potable water will be readily accessible for guests.
- Cooling: Potable water will be readily accessible for guests. Light snacks must also be available.
- Food and snacks must take into consideration the potential for diverse dietary restrictions.
Safety and Security
- Provider(s) must have trained on-site staff to provide a safe environment during all hours the facility or mobile location is open and be trained to provide appropriate security. In addition the awarded provider must have a plan for responding to first aid needs and health emergencies that may occur at the cooling/warming facility or mobile site.
Cleaning & Sanitation
- Brick and Mortar: Provider(s) must have sanitation and cleaning services provided at the facility to ensure the facility meets health and safety standards for guests.
- Mobile sites: Provider(s) must have a plan to dispose of trash to ensure location utilized for mobile warming/cooling does not experience impacts.
Pets
- Mobile and brick and mortar centers must have the capacity to welcome pets. Community partners must have sufficient pet supplies, food/water, leashes/harnesses available and crates. DHSH will support connection and collaboration with Sacramento County Department of Animal Care Services should there be resources available.
- The preferred way to provide services to people and their pets is for pets to sleep and/or remain in the same room or space as their owners (leashed or crated). This decreases negative animal behaviors and increases the opportunity for therapeutic contact. If this is not possible, pets may also be housed in an indoor or outdoor kennel as appropriate.
- Sites must identify an appropriate outdoor area for pet relief.
Storage
- Brick and mortar centers must have the facilities (temporary or permanent) to offer storage for persons physical possessions. Community partners must provide storage during the period of cooling and warming center activation. Fear of losing belongings can be a determining factor in whether a person chooses to engage with homeless services or not. Knowing that cooling and warming centers cannot accommodate all of persons belongings, providing secure, accessible storage options can ensure that they do not lose personal items, including clothing and identification.
Charging Stations
- Mobile and brick and mortar centers must have sufficient capacity to support charging of mobile devices.

Resource: https://endhomelessness.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Keeping-People-and-Pets-Together-031220.pdf

Procurement Portal

Request for Qualifications - Weather Response for Persons Experiencing Homelessness

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