Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — As a prolonged stretch of excessive heat grips the region, local advocates are warning that Rochester’s unhoused residents face heightened risks of heat-related illness, often because they lack access to water and cool places.
The House of Mercy is housing more people this week and expanding efforts to help them escape the extreme temperatures, according to Michael Ford, the shelter’s executive director.
“We’re seeing numbers increase, especially with the increase in the heat,” Ford said. “A lot of the challenges that people face in Code Blue with regards to exposure to the elements are the same type of thing that happens in extreme heat situations.”…