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Nonprofit provides life-saving resources to homeless Portlanders braving extreme heat: 'Just keep people safe'

Transition Projects spent the day giving out cases of water, snacks and a list of cooling centers to Portland's homeless community.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s Transition Projects crew stayed busy Tuesday as they handed out cases of water, snacks and a list of cooling centers to the homeless community

“Just keep people safe. You know? Keep people safe. That’s what we want to do,” said Tara Strasburg, Transition Projects’ navigation team supervisor. “The most surprised [response] I get is when I tell them it’s going to be over 100 degrees.” 

Strasburg said that the work they do is life-saving, as many of the homeless people they interact with have no idea how long the heat wave will last. 

“These people aren’t watching the news every day. You know?” said Strasburg. “They don’t have TVs and know what’s coming.” 

RELATED: 'I don't want to die out here': Portland puts homeless camp sweeps on pause amid heat wave

In heat events like this, Strasburg said her team spends most of the day driving around from tent to tent handing out resources. And while people on the streets are shocked by hearing the temperature reading — they’re feeling it every second of the day. 

“There's nights like last night. It was 97 degrees at 10 o’clock and that’s still too hot for people and animals,” said a homeless woman who goes by CK. 

She says she has lived on the streets for the last 28 years of her life and says, the heat threatens her life. 

“I can’t do it,” said CK. “If I get too overheated, I’ll end up going into a seizure. And it’s something I don't want to stress him [her partner] out about but there’s nothing I can do.” 

RELATED: Multnomah County, city of Portland declare state of emergency for extreme heat this week

The Multnomah County East Building and Cook Plaza are designated cooling centers in Gresham from 1 p.m.. to 8 p.m. A third cooling shelter is stationed in Old Town off Northwest Glisan and 5th Avenue under the same hours. The Lloyd Center is being used as a cooling space from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pets are welcome at all locations. TriMet is also offering free rides to cooling centers. 

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