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A London city councilor is hoping to help older people stay cool in the summer by proposing a new program that would offer free or subsidized air conditioning.
Ward 11 Count. Skylar Franke is bringing up the proposal at Monday’s Corporate and Security Services Committee meeting.
“Older people are the most likely to die from extreme heat and are the most likely to suffer from heat exhaustion and sunstroke, so it’s especially important for this group of people to have cold spots in the home where they can cool off,” Franke said.
If the program is adopted by committee and then by the full council, city staff would have to write a report on how a program of this nature would work, how much it would cost and who would be eligible. They will need to report to the council by early 2027.
Ward 11 Count. Skylar Franke says older adults are exposed to several health risks in extreme heat. That’s why she’s proposing a plan to make air conditioning more affordable or free. (Alessio Donnini/CBC News)
Senior Deborah Ratz lives in a public apartment on Marconi Boulevard and spends much of the summer without air conditioning.
“When we open the doors and windows because it’s so hot outside, it gets even hotter in here,” she said. “I have quite a few health problems, so this worries me a lot.”
Ratz said she has heard of other seniors facing similar problems.
“Due to the heat now, more and more elderly people are being admitted to hospital due to breathing problems and other such problems. The places are too hot for one small fan to do it,” she said.
Last week, the Middlesex and London Paramedic Service reported an eight per cent increase in heat-related calls, with many of them coming from older people.
Lack of financial support
Franke said that while there are some programs that support low-income seniors in purchasing air conditioners, not everyone is eligible.
People can use discretionary benefits from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) for support of up to $450 per AC unit. Franke said the number of requests in London has been increasing over the years, with the city approving more than 250 apartments last year.
“The gap that I found was that seniors whose incomes are just above the minimum level are not eligible, and so some of them are struggling financially to buy air conditioners,” Franke said.
Ratz is one of these people. She received her last AC through ODSP, but when she tried to reapply this year, she said her application was denied because her income was too high.
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However, she said that amount is not enough to buy an AC unit that costs between $300 and $600.
“People think you have a lot of money, but you have to consider your bills, food and medications,” she said.
Ratz said that just this week, a friend gave her an old, partially working air conditioner, which helped with cooling. However, she wants to purchase her own working device.
That’s why she supports Franke’s proposal.
“I really think it would be amazing for a lot of people who can’t afford it. There are so many people who are barely getting by with food and stuff. Adding that extra thing is a struggle.”
Franke said she has received positive feedback on the proposal so far and hopes the City Committee is receptive as well.
“Anything we can do … to help reduce some of the costs and essentially provide a health care service to make sure they’re okay is important.”