New Jersey Housing Group Cuts Heat Deaths With AC Campaign

For Lindsey and his cat Huntress, a new air conditioner meant the difference between struggling to breathe and finally sleeping through the night. The New Jersey resident manages chronic asthma in a state warming faster than the rest of the nation, and his old cooling system couldn't keep up.

He's not alone. HABcore Inc., the Jersey Shore's largest provider of supportive housing, serves approximately 500 people across Monmouth and Ocean counties. Every single household includes at least one person living with a chronic medical or mental health condition that makes extreme temperatures dangerous.

This summer proved why reliable cooling isn't a luxury. At least 29 deaths were attributed to people living without air conditioning during the heatwaves. For residents with asthma, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, or mental illness, extreme heat doesn't just cause discomfort. It can be deadly.

Mariah, a single mother of two children with asthma, watched her kids struggle with poor air quality until HABcore arranged professional HVAC cleaning. "My children are breathing easier," she said, grateful to avoid another emergency room trip.

Thomas stayed healthy during the worst of the heat thanks to his working AC. "It kept my place cool and comfy, and it stopped the extreme heat from messing with my health," he said.

The challenge is bigger than individual units. New Jersey has some of the oldest housing stock in the country, where many low-income and heat-vulnerable residents live. HABcore manages 250 properties, and aging HVAC systems across those homes need urgent attention.

The Ripple Effect

HABcore launched the Cool Homes Campaign to upgrade and repair failing cooling systems before next summer. The organization has already made critical repairs and replaced old window units, but more work remains.

With a $25,000 fundraising goal, the campaign addresses an issue that will only grow more urgent. Historic weather data suggests more hot, humid weeks are coming, and rapidly changing temperatures mean residents need reliable heating and cooling year round.

President and CEO Steve Heisman frames the mission simply. "Donations mean more than a cooler home. It is peace of mind for a parent with an asthmatic child or a safer space for the elderly, babies and those with diabetes, autoimmune disease or mental illness."

The campaign aligns with findings from a recent Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey white paper on extreme heat. The report confirms what HABcore residents already know: vulnerable populations need dependable cooling to survive increasingly intense summers.

For Lindsey and Huntress, the impact is immediate. "I am able to handle my chronic asthma and I am breathing so much better with this new air conditioner. I'm able to sleep better and have the energy to care for myself and my cat."

Keeping vulnerable people safe from extreme weather is becoming an essential part of supportive housing.