The Oregon Health Authority began distributing air conditioning units to Oregonians most at risk of heat-related illnesses amid record high temperatures this week.
The health authority has worked with the Oregon Department of Social Services to provide hundreds of portable air conditioning units to community service providers, including distributing 500 air conditioners this past weekend.
A delivery of 80 air conditioning units is unloaded at the Portland Open Bible Community Pantry in southeast Portland on Monday, July 25. The units were purchased by the Oregon Health Authority with a $5 million allocation from the legislature.
Courtesy of the Oregon Health Authority
The Portland Open Bible Church, the Rockwood Community Development Corporation and the Somali American Council of Oregon helped provide the units to qualified Oregonians to help them through the heat wave.
This includes Oregonians who are eligible to receive state or federal medical assistance, or those who received assistance within the past year.
The Somali American Council of Oregon provides support services primarily to Somali and African immigrant communities.
Council director Musse Olol said his organization had not received enough air conditioners for everyone who needed them. However, he said many households in the community are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive a free air conditioner.
“I’ve found it to be the most spiritually rewarding work because you’re actually comforting people who don’t have the financial means to get an AC,” he said.
After the units were delivered to the Portland Open Bible Community Pantry in southeast Portland, they were distributed by several partner community organizations, some also assisting with installation.
Courtesy of the Oregon Health Authority
Patrick Allen, Director of the Oregon Health Authority, wrote in a statement, “These air conditioning units are a necessary step in building resilience to this health threat, especially for those most vulnerable to burnout. heat, heatstroke and death”.
Lawmakers allocated $5 million to purchase and install the air conditioners through the passage of Senate Bill 1536 earlier this year. Due to the new law, these air conditioners can be installed even if a rental agreement does not allow it, as long as they do not present a safety hazard. The law was passed after last year’s deadly heat wave killed 69 people in Oregon.
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Olol said these heat deaths have hit his community, but he believes these air conditioners will save lives.
“We should have had enough for every senior who was at high risk of dying or getting sicker in hot weather, and we lost some last year,” Olol said. “And hopefully this year this program should be able to prevent some seniors from succumbing to the heat.”
The state plans to distribute 3,000 units this summer and will continue to work with community organizations to distribute air conditioners to individuals this week.
People enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan can contact their health care provider to receive an air conditioner if needed.