The warm weather and humidity in D.C. are excruciating this time of year. With temperatures climbing pass the 90s and the heat index near 100, the DowntownDC BID wants to remind everyone to keep an eye out for homeless individuals, who are vulnerable to hyperthermia. Chronically homeless individuals suffer from mental health, compromised medical health and substance abuse problems and are extremely susceptible to this life threatening condition when temperatures continue to rise. If you know of someone who needs help, please notify a Downtown Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance (SAM) employee or call the city’s Hyperthermia Hotline at 1-800-535-7252 for assistance. Once the heat index reaches 95 degrees, D.C. Cooling Centers stay open until 6 p.m. on weekdays.
The BID has a specially trained team of SAMs, known as the Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST), which works closely with, and are trained by, the Downtown Homeless Services Team, the on-the-street professionals managed and funded by the BID through Pathways to Housing DC. This team engages with people experiencing homelessness every day where they are in the community. All will be extra diligent as they work this summer to ensure that everyone remains safe in Downtown.