In case of a heat emergency:
If you or a loved one are experiencing a heat emergency, we urge you to seek a public cooling space or call 211. For more information about how to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and how to find a cooling shelter or transportation during a heat emergency, visit PublicAlerts
Who to contact
Community-based organizations: Please contact one of these organizations to request a cooling unit, and they will help you through the process. The following organizations are serving low-income Portlanders and have intake processes to determine eligibility and prioritization.
Please understand that there may be a waitlist to receive a unit.
- African American Alliance for Homeownership
- Email: info@aaah.org
- Phone: 503-595-3517
- Verde
- Email: heatresponse@verdenw.org
- Phone: 541-397-8834 OR 541-936-3743
- Apply Here (English and Spanish)
- APANO
- Email: info@apano.org
- Phone: 971-340-4861
Housing Provider CDPs : If you live in a housing unit managed by one of the following housing providers in the Cooling Portland Program, you can contact your property manager to determine if you are eligible to receive a cooling unit. Housing providers are currently only serving people who live in the housing that they manage.
- Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
- Central City Concern
- Home Forward
- Innovative Housing
- Northwest Housing Alternatives
- PCRI – Portland Community Reinvestment Inc.
- REACH CDC - Note : REACH CDC is only serving people who are homeowners eligible and participating in their Community Builders program. If you live in a rental property managed by REACH CDC, contact one of the community-based organizations listed above.
Eligibility and vulnerable populations
Cooling Portland provides life-saving and efficient portable heat pump/cooling equipment to Portland’s low-income residents, prioritizing those most vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat fueled by climate change.
In order to be eligible to receive a cooling unit, a recipient must live in the City of Portland, and have an income that is 60% or less of the Area Median Income, adjusted for household size. A chart of income and household size thresholds is available here.
For the distribution of efficient portable heat pump/cooling equipment in the Cooling Portland program, people who are most at risk are being prioritized by distribution partners. Vulnerable populations are defined as those who are people with low incomes and who are also have two or more of the following risk factors:
- Are over 60 years of age.
- Have medical conditions that increase risk of heat-related illness.
- Are living alone.
Additional risk factors related to type of housing and the intersection with vulnerable groups may be used to identify households for distribution of equipment during program implementation.
Additional cooling resources
You may be eligible to receive a cooling unit from your medical provider, whether you live in Portland or in another city:
You may be eligible to receive a cooling unit from your medical provider if you are covered by one of the following organizations: CareOregon, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy, OHSU Health, Providence. Contact Health Share Oregon for more information
- Health Share Oregon
- Website
- Phone: 503-416-8090
- For people covered by Trillium Community Health Plan
- Phone (877) 600-5472 | (541) 485-2155 | TTY 711 to request.
- Website
- Oregon Health Authority Resources
- Send an email to: OHA Ombuds Program at OHA.OmbudsOffice@odhsoha.oregon.gov
- Phone 1-877-642-0450 - Message line only TTY 711 / Fax: 1-503-934-5023