Houston City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on a proposed ordinance that would require rental properties to provide working refrigerated air conditioning, as one council member launches a separate effort to provide free portable A/C units to vulnerable Houstonians.
Council Member Alejandra Salinas announced a giveaway of 125 portable air conditioning units for eligible residents who need help staying cool during Houston’s extreme summer heat.
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The units are available to eligible Houston residents, including:
- Seniors age 60 and older
- Low-income households
- Disabled veterans
- People with disabilities
- Families facing financial hardship
“In Houston, access to air conditioning can no longer be a luxury,” Salinas said. “No senior, veteran, person with a disability, or family struggling to make ends meet should have to endure dangerous indoor temperatures because they cannot afford adequate cooling.”
Residents must apply to receive one of the 125 portable A/C units. Those who need help completing the application can contact Salinas’ office at 832-393-3012.
Distribution details will be provided to selected residents.
The giveaway comes as Salinas pushes a proposed “Right to Air Conditioning” ordinance that would change Houston’s current rental requirements.
Under the proposal, landlords would be required to provide and maintain operable refrigerated air conditioning in habitable spaces.
The ordinance would also eliminate a provision that allows window screens to be used as an alternative to air conditioning under the city’s current code.
The proposed requirement would not necessarily mean every rental property must have central air conditioning. A window unit or portable A/C could also qualify, as long as the equipment can cool the living space to 80 degrees.
The ordinance is scheduled to go before City Council for a vote Wednesday.
Supporters of the proposal point to the health risks associated with extreme heat, particularly for seniors, people with disabilities and low-income residents who may not have reliable access to air conditioning.
According to Harris County Public Health, more than 7,600 cases of heat-related illness were reported in the county between 2019 and 2023.
Salinas said the A/C giveaway is part of a broader effort to make reliable cooling a basic health and safety standard for Houston residents.
The 125 portable units are limited, and residents must apply to be considered.