As extreme summer temperatures blanket Greater Houston, local organizations have united to deliver not just comfort, but life-saving relief. The Heat Wave Heroes initiative, a partnership between Workforce Solutions, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Fox 26, and local trade unions, is providing free air conditioning units to seniors and veterans who need them most.
Reporting from Richmond, Fox 26’s Ruben Dominguez called the effort “incredible” and “right on time,” with sweltering August heat making conditions unsafe for many at-risk residents. “It is too hot to be inside the house, as you can well imagine,” he said. “The local community is stepping up.”
Combining Relief with Opportunity
This initiative is more than a seasonal act of kindness, it’s also a platform to spotlight career training opportunities in the skilled trades. Juliette Stipeche, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, explained the broader mission:
“Gulf Coast Workforce Board and Workforce Solutions are excited to team up with the A-R-P-M-C three program… providing people opportunities to learn about the trades, including HVAC, which is critical here as heat heroes are needed to be able to repair AC units and help families and communities stay cool.”
Paul Puente, Executive Secretary of the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council, emphasized how these apprenticeship programs open doors:
“They get to go to school, go to work, they get healthcare, they get pensions… we’re trying to give back to our community.”
These programs are free to participants and are designed to help individuals—particularly veterans—build sustainable careers while addressing critical needs in their own neighborhoods.
Focus on Seniors and Veterans
In Hank Murphy, on Houston’s east side, more families received AC units through coordinated efforts. Curtis Cooper, Senior Manager of the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Area Agency on Aging, shared:
“We provide services for older adults and we have a partnership… to provide and donate air conditioning today.”
Helping deliver those units were members of Pipefitters Local 211, including Training Director, Octavio Rojas, who said:
“We’re out here in the community, donating a portable air conditioner to those families that need help… keep ’em cool and safe during this heat. It’s always good to be able to help and give back.”
The campaign also highlighted the needs of veterans, with Combined Arms stepping in to connect military families to vital resources. Mia Garcia, Executive Director of the Texas Veterans Network, a Combined Arms initiative, described their involvement:
“We’ve been around for 10 years. If you know any veterans that have any needs, whether that be employment or maybe they have financial needs, maybe they need an air conditioner, have them reach out to Combined Arms.”
Combined Arms has connected more than 95,000 veterans to services that help them thrive after military service.
A Model for Community Impact
Whether it’s providing cooling relief, job training, or support for veterans, Heat Wave Heroes stands as a model for how public, private, and nonprofit organizations can come together to solve urgent community needs.
“Five years, 2-1-1 always stepping up when there’s a need, man. That’s right,” said Rojas.
If you or someone you know is a senior or veteran in need, or if you’re interested in exploring a career in the skilled trades, reach out to Workforce Solutions, Combined Arms, or the Gulf Coast Workforce Board for more information.
