Phoenix summers kill. More than 600 people died from heat-associated causes in Maricopa County last year — a record. The city is expanding its emergency shelter and cooling network ahead of another season of extreme heat.
The City Council on May 20 approved amendments to the city's emergency shelter and heat-related respite contracts, increasing funding and capacity for homeless shelters and cooling centers. The item was approved as part of the consent agenda.
What the amendments do
The amendments cover contracts with multiple service providers, including shelter operators and heat respite centers in Districts 3, 7, and 8, as well as citywide. The ordinance authorizes changes to the city's qualified vendor list and increases spending authority for the coming months.
Phoenix operates a network of emergency shelters and heat respite centers during the summer, when temperatures regularly exceed 110 degrees. Cooling centers open at libraries, community centers, and other public buildings when the National Weather Service issues excessive heat warnings. The amended contracts expand capacity at those locations and extend operating hours.
Phoenix's heat crisis
Maricopa County reported 645 heat-associated deaths in 2024, the highest number on record. People experiencing homelessness account for a disproportionate share of those deaths. The city created the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation in 2021 after a record-breaking summer to coordinate the city's response to extreme heat. The office manages the cooling center network, distributes water and supplies, and works with homeless service providers to get people indoors during heat waves.
The amended contracts come as Phoenix approaches its hottest months. May temperatures have already reached triple digits, and the Office of Heat Response has been preparing for the summer season. Homeless service providers report that demand for shelter and cooling increases sharply when temperatures rise above 105 degrees.
What's next
The city's cooling center network typically operates from June through September, with activation triggered by excessive heat warnings from the National Weather Service. The contract amendments approved May 20 ensure that providers have the funding and capacity to meet what is expected to be another severe heat season. The specific dollar amounts of the contract amendments were detailed in the agenda materials provided to the council.
View the full meeting agenda on our tracker for the complete list of contract amendments and funding details.