Our objective is to help prevent a heat-related health crisis in Montreal by subsidizing the purchase of air conditioners for low-income Montrealers. People experience and die from heat-related sickness every year, but during a global pandemic when emergency room access is already precarious, we believe it is a moral imperative to address this entirely preventable suffering and death. In the year 2020, no one should lose their life because of the summer heat.

 

In the past, Montrealers without cool air at home may have accessed relief at their workplace, or in public spaces like libraries and community centers. For many, the COVID-19 pandemic has eliminated these options, either due to recent lay-offs or safety measures preventing community spread. The result is limited access to heat relief, or closure of these spaces entirely. Montrealers remaining at home this summer who don’t have access to heat relief are left to cope with a painful reality.

 

Montrealers who are able to work from home this summer are not exempt from this threat. Quebec occupational health and safety regulations state that the maximum permissible heat exposure limit for workers is 32.2ºC (Légis Quebec, CQLR c S-2.1, r. 13). In May 2020 alone, temperatures in Montreal surpassed 35ºC. As summer progresses, these conditions may be a death sentence for Montrealers with no access to cool air.

 

In 2018, 93 Quebec residents died from the heat, and many more suffered from dangerous heat exposure. In the midst of COVID-19, Montreal emergency rooms will continue to experience critical levels of overcrowding for the foreseeable future. Montrealers suffering from heat-related distress may choose to avoid emergency rooms and thereby fail to receive essential medical attention. 

 

We subsidize heat relief for low-income Montrealers by issuing need-based gift cards for vendors of air conditioners and other cooling units. By providing gift cards, we can accept small and large donations and allow those in need to decide what is best for them. 

 

We are committed to ensuring accessibility by:

• Developing digital and physical access to our application; 

• Offering several gift card options choices for multiple stores to purchase cooling units

• Partnering with community organizations who work closely with their community members

• Incorporating feedback from donors and applicants regarding the process 

 

We are furthermore committed to:

• A rapid turnaround from donations to resource provision, as this is an issue with immediate and dangerous outcomes

• Transparency of funds and operations