Interfaith Sanctuary makes emergency call for portable air conditioning units

Interfaith Sanctuary homeless shelter has made an emergency call for portable air conditioning units for its residents at the Red Lion Downtowner Hotel in Boise because the hotel’s air conditioning is broken.

The temperature is expected to hit 106 degrees this weekend, and some rooms are already getting too hot for residents, some of whom are elderly and medically fragile.

Four residents deemed particularly fragile have been moved back to Interfaith Sanctuary’s emergency shelter on River Street.

“I would say we have a higher percentage of very medically fragile patients (this year) that the heat can actually exacerbate their medical issues, so we’re trying to manage that for guests,” Jodi Peterson-Stigers, executive director of Interfaith Sanctuary, said Wednesday by phone.

In all, 88 people are staying at the Red Lion hotel as part of a program through Interfaith Sanctuary and paid for by the city of Boise until Interfaith Sanctuary is able to open a new shelter on State Street.

The program with the Red Lion, started during the pandemic, is being used to house families, elderly and those who are medically fragile.

The air conditioning broke five days ago, and repairs are not expected for another two weeks, Peterson-Stigers said.

In all, 42 rooms are being occupied by Interfaith Sanctuary residents. Many rooms are being cooled by box fans, Peterson-Stigers said, but that’s not enough to keep the rooms cooled down.

Interfaith has asked the community to donate or lend at least 16 portable air conditioning units immediately, particularly before this weekend’s spike in temperatures.

Air conditioning units can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the emergency shelter at 1620 W. River St.

Monetary donations can also be made through Interfaith Sanctuary’s website.

A message left for the Red Lion general manager was not immediately returned.