09/02/2026
There’s Nowhere to Go When It’s Too Hot…
By 10am, the pavement was already radiating heat.
James had been moving since early morning, trying to stay ahead of it. He knew the pattern. Find shade. Keep moving. Don’t stay in one place too long or the heat starts to settle in.
By midday, there aren’t many good options left.
The library was full. The cooling station someone mentioned last week wasn’t open that day. Businesses didn’t want people lingering unless they were buying something, and even then, not for long.
So he walked.
From one side of town to the other. From one patch of shade to the next. Sitting for a few minutes when he could, then moving again when the heat became too much.
His shirt was soaked through. His head felt heavy. The air itself felt thick, like something he had to push through just to breathe.
At some point, it stopped being uncomfortable.
It became something else.
His thoughts slowed in a way that didn’t feel right. Not calm. Just… off. He tried to focus on where he was going, but it was harder to keep track. Harder to care.
He found a spot along a wall where a narrow strip of shade had formed and sat down, telling himself it was just for a minute.
Just long enough to cool off.
People passed by without noticing.
A few glanced over, then kept walking.
From the outside, it didn’t look like much. Just someone sitting against a wall on a hot day.
It wasn’t until a small outreach team came through the area that someone stopped.
“Hey,” one of them said, kneeling down beside him. “Are you alright?”
James didn’t answer right away.
He wasn’t sure how to explain what was happening. He didn't even know if he could respond.
They handed him water. Asked a few questions. Not rushed. Not assuming.
Within a few minutes, they understood.
This wasn’t just heat.
This was dangerous.
They helped him up slowly and guided him toward a vehicle parked nearby. The air conditioning hit him in a way that almost didn’t feel real at first.
Cool air.
A place to sit.
Somewhere his body didn’t have to fight just to function.
He didn’t say much.
He didn’t need to.
By the time they reached a space where he could cool down safely, James leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment.
His body finally had a chance to catch up.
Later, when he was more alert, someone checked in with him again.
“Do you have somewhere to go when it gets like this?” they asked.
James shook his head.
And that was the problem.
Because when temperatures climb high enough, it’s not just uncomfortable.
It’s dangerous.
And for people without a place to go, there’s no simple way to escape it.
No door to close.
No thermostat to adjust….
Just long hours of trying to stay ahead of something that doesn’t slow down.
That day, James was lucky.
Someone noticed.
Someone stopped.
Someone helped.
But not everyone has that moment.
And when there’s nowhere to go to cool down safely, something as simple as a hot day can become something much more serious.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS SOMETHING BIGGER
Hope COS is actively working to secure a space that can serve as year-round shelter. A place where individuals can go when it’s too hot, and a place where they can go when it’s too cold. A place where people don’t have to rely on luck, timing, or chance encounters just to stay safe.
A place where someone like James can walk through the door and know they’ll be okay.
We’re not there yet.
But we’re working on it.
And if this is something you believe matters, there are ways to be part of it.
Because no one should have to fight the elements just to survive the day.
Please contact Hope COS directly if you'd like to support this project.
For more information please visit https://hopecos.org/hope-cos-continuum-shelter-expansion-plan/
Hope COS Phone: 719-401-3111 option 6
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Note:
The stories shared here may be fictional or based on real events that have been fictionalized to protect identity. When stories are inspired by actual experiences, names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved. While not every story reflects a specific real event, the challenges represented are very real for many people in our community.
Building a Permanent Home for Hope Hope COS is working toward something our community has needed for a long time: a permanent emergency shelter that can grow from expanded winter sheltering into a …
