30,000+ people visit Phoenix heat relief sites as excessive heat continues

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The City of Phoenix reports that 31,657 people have visited the city’s heat relief respite and cooling centers this summer and expects the number to increase as excessive heat continues in the Valley.

According to the city’s most recent heat report:

• 28,752 or 91% of visitors are experiencing homelessness
• 65% are returning visitors
• Most visitors are searching for heat relief around 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Knowing that excessive heat warnings have been extended through the end of the week, David Hondula, the Director of Heat Relief and Mitigation, says it is critical to continue offering heat relief resources and locations.

“Heat and the need to serve the community doesn’t depend on a calendar date. We need to be ready to respond whenever dangerous heat occurs and it just so happens we’re seeing some of the most dangerous heat of the entire calendar year landing outside what we typically think of as the season for heat relief,” said Hondula.

The City of Phoenix’s extended heat relief sites are:

• Burton Barr Library- Respite
• Senior Opportunites West- Respite
• Cholla Library- Cooling center
• Harmon Library- Cooling center
• Yucca Library- Cooling center

All five locations will offer extended heat relief services through the first week of October. However, the Burton Barr Library will be the only location offering 24/7 services. The other four locations will offer heat relief services during regular business hours.

This is the first year the city tracked and recorded data for its heat relief sites. Hondula said the hope is the data will help the city plan for Summer 2025 heat relief efforts and try to fill any holes it found from this summer.

“The chronic nature of this heat, the very high ongoing persistent day time highs and the same is true for nights as well there’s been so many hot nights this summer, it’s just been hard for people to find a break,” Hondula said, “the majority of thre visits have been at Burton Barr and we will be certainly thinking about that as we begin our planning for next season because there certainly are some needs in particular places in the city.”

The Maricopa County Heat Relief Map is available for those seeking relief in their area.

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