ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Close to 1,200 people are homeless in the City of Rochester, according to City Council President Miguel Melendez Jr.’s report released earlier this year. But with temperatures nearing 100 degrees on Tuesday, staying cool is not a simple task but a priority.
News10NBC’s Tom Kowalski rode along with Operation Caring Hearts to see how leader Rebecca Mearns helps homeless people adapt to the heat.
“Operation Caring Hearts helps the homeless and veterans in Rochester, New York,” Mearns said.
On days like this, her biggest focus is making sure people stay cool.
“We give out lots of water, Gatorade, food, snacks, high protein stuff, fruit snacks,” said Mearns. “I just gave them tons of bug repellent the other night, it was Deep Woods Off. Sunscreen.”
According to Melendez’s report, homelessness in Rochester has gone up by 33% from 2019 to 2025, and Means says she’s seen that number reflected in the amount of homeless people she’s helped.
One of those people, who goes by Yard Man, says he tries to get cash through mowing yards in the neighborhood – but on hotter days, he says people like Mearns can be a lifesaver.
“All my customers are angels, if I needed something like water, ice, you name it. If I ask for it, they’ll give it to me. Like this lovely lady driving her car,” Yard Man said, referring to Mearns. “She saved me so many times. So many times. She’s actually really saved my life at times.”
One homeless person described the struggle of finding water on hot days.
“Oh it’s brutal. It’s brutal. Half the day I’ve been begging for water,” the man said. “Like half of [my day] is going around and looking for water, waiting for the church to open up. It’s tough.”
Mearns said one of the things she hopes to see implemented to address homelessness in Rochester is expanding low-barrier shelters like the Peace Village. That’s something agreed upon by Melendez in his report.
There is no word on when, or if, the Peace Village is expected to return. If you’re interested in donating to Operation Caring Hearts or volunteering, you can visit the Operation Caring Hearts Facebook page.
‘She’s actually really saved my life at times’: One woman is driving through Rochester making sure homeless people survive the heat WHEC.com.
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