Houston partners with Reliant to open 22 cooling centers this summer

Reliant Energy’s Beat the Heat program marks the 20th year the energy company and the city will provide cooling centers for Houston residents during the summer heat, officials announced during a June 12 news conference.

The details

Twelve city multi-service centers, nine county precinct centers and one community family center will be used as cooling centers throughout the summer until September. The cooling centers include:

• Acres Homes Multi-Service Center: 6719 W. Montgomery Road, Houston
• Alief Neighborhood Center: 11903 Bellaire Blvd., Houston
• Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center: 6402 Market St., Houston
• Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center: 4014 Market St., Houston
• Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center: 3810 W. Fuqua St., Houston
• Kashmere Multi-Service Center: 4802 Lockwood Drive, Houston
• Magnolia Multi-Service Center: 7037 Capitol St., Houston
• Northeast Multi-Service Center: 9720 Spaulding St., Houston
• Southwest Multi- Service Center: 6400 High Star Drive, Houston
• Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center: 4410 Reed Road, Houston
• Third Ward Multi-Service Center: 3611 Ennis St., Houston
• West End Multi Service Center: 170 Heights Blvd., Houston
• Bay Area Community Center: 5002 East NASA Parkway, Seabrook
• East Harris County Activity Center: 7340 Spencer Highway, Pasadena
• Felix Baldree Community Center: 13828 Corpus Christi St., Houston
• Hardy Community Center: 11901 West Hardy Road, Houston
• JD Walker Community Center: 7613 Wade Road, Baytown
• Leonel J. Castillo Community Center: 2101 South St., Houston
• Mangum-Howell Community Center: 2500 Frick Road, Houston
• Martin Flukinger Community Center: 16003 Lorenzo St., Channelview
• Deputy Darren Almendarez Community Center: 10918 1/2 Bentley St., Houston
• Community Family Center: 7524 Avenue East, Houston

A cooling center is a public, air-conditioned space that provides a place for residents to avoid the heat, accessible to anyone in the city, Reliant Energy’s website. Snacks, water and activities will be provided in the cooling centers, as well as an energy adviser who will answer questions residents might have on their energy bill, Reliant Energy spokesperson Megan Talley said.

Reliant will also donate $78,000 to provide more than 200 air conditioning units to Houston residents, according to the news release.

Bill Clayton, vice president of customer care at Reliant Energy, said during the news conference that cooling centers not only provide a way for residents to avoid the heat, but also to connect with their neighbors.

“It can be hazardous to seniors, it can be hazardous to children and so we’re making a stand for everybody to come into the cooling centers to have some fun,” Clayton said.

Council member Mario Castillo said the heat impacts senior citizens, children and those with health issues. He urged residents to tell their neighbors about cooling centers and encourage them to visit them when needed.

“We want people to use the cooling centers,” Castillo said. “It’s a way to seek relief, it’s a way to get a break on your energy bill.”