Summer 'White Flag' Initiative Offers Heat Relief to Homeless Individuals

6/23/2006

The White Flag Network has announced its plan to serve homeless persons who are medically at-risk due to significant respiratory, cardiac, or other disease and who need shelter from the extreme heat this summer.

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. The Summer White Flag Program officially runs from June 1 to Sept. 15.

Homeless men who have a MARS letter may go to the South Wilmington Street Center any day through 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. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday through Sept. 15. Women and children -- if they have a MARS letter -- 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 receive shelter from the heat. On these days, a white flag will be displayed outside 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 St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 857-9428

Women and children:
Women's Center of Wake County, Inc.
128 East Hargett St., Suite 10
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 829-3711

Raleigh Rescue Mission
314 East Hargett St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 828-9014

Women without children:
Helen Wright Center for Women
The Urban Ministries of Wake County
401 W. Cabarrus St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 833-1748

 

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