What about a WiFi connected smart outlet? It can be voice controlled or controlled from a phone or turned on at the outlet. You can set just a "run timer" (from the time I turn it on, run 2.5 hours) without it repeating.
AND if you need to make sure it's off at any point, just check your phone.
TP Link Kasa outlets can run for 23 hours and 59 minutes at a time.
That's assuming IF there ever was a push to build things like this to help homeless they WOULDNT find a way to make it look as inhumane as possible.