Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas has announced an initiative to provide 125 free portable air conditioning units to eligible Houston residents who may not have reliable access to adequate cooling.

Council Member
Alejandra Salinas

 

The giveaway is aimed at helping seniors, low-income households, disabled veterans, people with disabilities and families experiencing financial hardship stay safer during Houston’s hot summer months.

The initiative comes as extreme heat remains a significant public health concern across the Houston area. Harris County Public Health reports that more than 7,600 heat-related illnesses were recorded in Harris County between 2019 and 2023, with heat-related illness increasing 329% during that period. 

Harris County Public Health identifies older adults and other vulnerable populations as being at increased risk during extreme heat. The agency also notes that access to air conditioning can help reduce exposure to high temperatures and prevent heat-related illness. 

Houston’s combination of high temperatures and humidity can make summer conditions particularly dangerous. The National Weather Service has documented periods of Houston-area temperatures in the upper 90s and 100s, with heat index values exceeding 100 degrees. 

The A/C giveaway is part of Salinas’ broader effort to address access to cooling as a health and safety issue.

In July, Salinas introduced a proposed Right to Air Conditioning ordinance for Houston rental housing. The proposal would require landlords to provide and maintain operable air conditioning in habitable spaces and eliminate the existing exemption that allows window screens to substitute for air conditioning. 

Residents who meet the eligibility requirements can apply for a portable A/C unit through the online application. Applicants who need assistance completing the application can contact Salinas’ office at 832-393-3012. Distribution information will be provided to residents selected to receive a unit.

As Houston continues through another period of extreme summer heat, access to reliable indoor cooling remains an important health and safety concern, particularly for residents who are older, have disabilities or face financial barriers to maintaining a cool home.