By Mariangelí Echevarría-Ramos, Climate Resilience Manager, mariangeli.echevarria-ramos@mysticriver.org
Extreme heat affects everyone, but not everyone is affected in the same way!
Older adults, children, outdoor workers, low-income residents, and many others could have a harder time preparing, coping, and recovering from extreme heat. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, where getting out of harms became even more difficult. To help our communities cope during the hot summer of 2020, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) launched a “COVID-Safe Cooling Strategies” program with emergency funding provided by the Barr Foundation.
The program provided funding and technical assistance to mitigate extreme heat impacts in seven communities most impacted by both COVID-19 and extreme heat: Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, and Revere. Between 2020-2023, the program provided close to $2 million total to municipal departments and organizations in these communities. The projects funded were a mix of projects for immediate cooling assistance – providing cooling equipment such as air conditioners and fans – and more innovative or long-term projects such as cool blocks. Here are a few examples of work funded by the “COVID-Safe Cooling Strategies” program:
New water fountains installed in the City of Chelsea
Air conditioning box-fan giveaway by the Garrison-Trotter Neighborhood Association
Air conditioner distribution by the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
In 2023, the program also helped energy-insecure residents by working with the non-profit All In Energy to provide utility bill technical assistance, aka “energy bill check-up", and build awareness of low-income rates and energy efficiency programs.
But the work doesn’t stop here! MAPC and MyRWA want to help the people most affected by extreme heat stay cool long-term. For this reason, MAPC is advocating to change local, State, and Federal challenges and create policy solutions addressing heat safety for our communities. These priorities include:
Prohibit suspension of utility shut-offs during summer months (June-August)
Advocate for heat safety laws for workers
Screen patients for climate vulnerability and cover the cost of cooling equipment as medical devices
Collaborate with MBTA and community members to identify public transit stops in need of shading/cooling and benches
Create a new Chief of Heat Resilience position at the State level
MyRWA is celebrating three years full of achievements for the “COVID-Safe Cooling Strategies” program. MAPC, MyRWA, and the Barr Foundation have been working hard to envision a new and improved program to be launched soon in 2024.
Stay tuned!
