Hudson County Cooling Center Now Open In Kearny Through August 31st For The Homeless

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy has announced that the Cooling Center in Kearny, located at 53 South Hackensack Avenue, has opened earlier than scheduled due to the heat wave impacting Hudson County this week. This location will provide a cool space for individuals experiencing homelessness that seek safety from the excessive heat impacting the area, and will provide medical services for those experiencing heat-related health conditions. The Cooling Center is active until August 31st.   The closing date may be extended if the forecast calls for temperatures above 95 degrees in September.

County Executive Guy stated, “This heat wave will bring dangerously high temperatures to Hudson County, threatening the wellbeing of individuals experiencing homelessness throughout our community. I am committed to providing the shelter and services our vulnerable populations who need to stay cool and safe during the hot summer months.  High temperatures and hot weather can exasperate health conditions and increase the risk of heat-related illnesses. I urge residents to remain indoors as these extreme temperatures persist and seek shelter to keep yourself and your families safe.”

The daytime Cooling Center is located at the Naval Reserve Facility in the Town of Kearny.  While it is not open 24 hours per day, it will be operated by Collaborative Support Programs of NJ (CSPNJ), and will operate between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the summer months.

A press release from the county states that transportation to the Cooling Center will be provided from the following locations beginning at 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on a continuous loop.  Clients will be brought back to these same locations in addition to the Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) Shelter in Union City and St. Lucy’s Shelter in Jersey City beginning at 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.:

• CPSNJ Drop In-Center (422 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Jersey City)

• Journal Square (JFK Boulevard and Pavonia Avenue)

• North Bergen Town Hall (43rd Street and Kennedy Boulevard)

• Hoboken Terminal (Observer Highway and Park Avenue)

Additionally, the following Daytime Centers provide a daily cool place for individuals:

• Garden State Community Development Corporation (GSCDC) Hudson CASA Drop-In Center (514 Newark Avenue, Jersey City): Beginning on 6/30 – Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Weekends 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Hudson County Integrated Services Center (422 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Jersey City): Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Hoboken Public Library (500 Park Avenue, Hoboken): Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please note the 2nd floor of the main branch is temporarily closed due to A/C issues.

• Hoboken Shelter (300 Bloomfield Avenue, Hoboken): 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Mary McLeod Bethune Center (140 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Jersey City): Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• PERC Shelter (111 37th Street, Union City): 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• St. Lucy’s Shelter (619 Grove Street, Jersey City): Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.