The White Flag Network has announced its plan to serve homeless persons who are medically at-risk due to significant respiratory or cardiac disease and who need shelter from the extreme heat this summer. The program kicks off Tuesday, June 1.
Persons who are medically at-risk will be evaluated at Horizon Health Center, an office of Wake Health Services Inc., and then given a letter indicating their participation in the MARS (Medically At-Risk in the Summer) Program.
Homeless men who have a MARS letter may go to the South Wilmington Street Center any day between June 1 and Sept. 15, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., regardless of the day's heat index. Men with a MARS letter will need to have identification photos taken at the South Wilmington Street Center. Each man will need to present his MARS letter upon arrival.
This year, women are encouraged to have a MARS letter from Horizon and will not need an identification photo. Women, with or without children, may go to the Women's Center of Wake County between 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday from June 1 to Sept. 15. Women and children may go to the Raleigh Rescue Mission when the Women's Center is closed on weekends or holidays between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. In addition, women without children who have a MARS letter may go to the Helen Wright Center for Women from 4 to 9 p.m. each day to get out of the heat.
On days when the weather may be hazardous to all persons, regardless of their medical condition, additional plans have been made. When the heat index is greater than 100 degrees between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., the South Wilmington Street Center will suspend its normal daytime programming so that all homeless men may get shelter from the heat. On these days, a white flag will be displayed at the center. All homeless women and children may go to the Women's Center regardless of the heat index between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
'WHITE FLAG' SITE INFORMATION:
Horizon Health Center
Wake Health Services, Inc.
102 N. Tarboro Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 743-3315
Men only:
South Wilmington Street Center
Wake County Human Services
1420 S. Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 857-9428
Women and children:
Women's Center of Wake County Inc.
128 East Hargett Street, Suite 10
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 829-3711
Raleigh Rescue Mission
314 East Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 828-9014
Women without children:
Helen Wright Center for Women
The Urban Ministries of Raleigh
401 West Cabarrus Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 833-1748