US cities expand cooling centers but struggle to get people inside

In response to this summer's extreme heat waves, U.S. cities are expanding cooling centers—air-conditioned public spaces designed to protect vulnerable residents. But per The Guardian, there's a critical gap: while these facilities are multiplying, many people aren't using them. Lower-income residents face the highest risk of heat-related illness or death, yet barriers like distance, stigma, and risk perception keep them away from the safety these centers offer.

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