‘They are far and few between and this is one of the few places that you can go to that I know of,’ said Richard Lose, a homeless veteran in Killeen.

While most Central Texans have air-conditioned cars, homes, or offices to take a break from the triple-digit temperatures we’re experiencing, much of the homeless population doesn’t.

‘They really have nowhere to go once they leave here unless they’re going to work or they have a family member’s house where they can stay during the day,’ said Maria Carmona, coordinator of Friends In Crisis Homeless Shelter in Killeen. ‘The library, they may go to the library but that’s it.’

Having a place to cool down is only half the battle, staying hydrated is much harder for a person with very little means.”