PHSHEATPRESENTATION3-10-2025.PPTX

2024/25 
Heat Relief Update 
Jeanene Fowler, Executive Director: Public Health
Jayson Matthews, Interim Director: Human Services
Dr. Nick Staab, Chief Medical Officer: Public Health

2005 Maricopa County Heat Wave
•
Exceptionally high temperatures in 
July 2005
•
Media Reports: 
•
“Many heat deaths may go 
uncounted” 
•
“Heat deaths catch officials off-
guard” 
•
“Heat wave claims 18 lives in 5 
days” 
•
No surveillance system for heat-
associated deaths in place at that 
time

Heat Relief Network (HRN)
§ In 2005, Maricopa County Association of Governments (MAG), municipalities, non-
profit organizations, Public Health and faith communities partnered to create HRN
§
The goal of HRN is to provide vulnerable people with resources that help prevent heat related deaths
– Over 40 Cooling Centers  
– 32 water collection sites
– 8 hydration stations/water distribution sites
– Well checks by faith communities
Cooling Centers/Heat 
Refuge Stations
Water Collection Sites 
Water Distribution Sites

Maricopa County Public Health Role
• In 2006, Public Health (MCDPH) and the Office of the Medical Examiner 
developed a heat-related death surveillance system - regular reports
• 2014: MCDPH implemented the first Cooling Center Evaluation
• 2015: CASPER Survey on heat-related emergency preparedness
• 2015: Public Health Institute Grant – Stakeholder Collaborative
• 2016-2023: CDC BRACE Grant ($40K) – Collaborative Strategic Planning
• 2023 Cooling Center Evaluation
2006-2023 we had between $0 and $100,000 annually for heat relief

Who is most at risk*?
• Three in four deaths were among men
• 60% were over age 50
• African Americans and AI/AN are over-represented
• Nearly half had heart or lung disease
• 45% with known living situations were homeless (500X risk)
• Two-thirds of deaths involved substances
• Methamphetamines (76%)
• Fentanyl (46%)
*Based on 2023 Heat Death Surveillance Data

Heat deaths increased 52% 2022-2023

History of Heat Relief Surveillance 
Funding 2006-2025
$0
$500,000 $1,000,000 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000
2006-2023 Avg
2024
2025
Total Annual Public Health Dollars for Heat Relief Funding 
Philanthropy or CDC BRACE Grant
ARPA
CDC PHIG Grant
CDC Health Disparties

2024 Maricopa County heat relief strategies based 
on our data
Evidence
Strategy
Budget Allocated
54% of visitors walked; 31% reported 
lack of transportation  
Solari/2-1-1 Heat Relief 
Call Center and 
Transportation Assistance
$670,000 total ($130,000 for 
transportation) 
Visitors requested daily heat relief 9 
am – 7 pm
Expanded Evening and 
Weekend Heat Relief 
Hours
$3,093,000:
•
$2,790,000 to Cities
•
$403,500 to CBO’s
56% of visitors recommended 
cooling/respite center  advertisement 
from the street
Improved signage at HRN 
sites
$200,000

Human Services
Heat Response Activities

Overview of HSD’s Heat Response Activities
• Emergency Home and HVAC Repair / 
Replacement
• Utility Assistance
• Assistance to Special Populations
• Partners
ER HVAC
Utility 
Assistance
Partners
Assistance 
to Special 
Populations

Maricopa County • Human Services Department • Maricopa.gov/HS                                                                         
Emergency Home and HVAC Repair/Replacement
Program that assists low-income County homeowners that have broken 
or poorly functioning HVAC units with a goal to prevent injury or death.
•
345 households assisted overall (311 only with HVAC); 791 clients served
•
Total Spent in 2024: $4.9M
•
Remaining Budget: $1.9M (with program adjustments, will last until August 2025)
•
Average Job Cost: $14,239
•
Funding provided by ARPA

Maricopa County • Human Services Department • Maricopa.gov/HS                                                                         
Utility Assistance
Program that assists low-income County residents who are unable to pay 
their utility bills with the goal of preventing injury or death and preventing 
homelessness.
•
Our focus is on smaller and rural communities; Phoenix, Mesa, and Glendale have their own 
program
•
Funding is provided by: DES, APS, US Treasury to provide direct assistance
•
We also support residents in completing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
(LIHEAP) applications in the DES portal
•
FY24 we provided utility assistance to 1,321 residents totaling $1,208,396
•
FY25 we have a total of $2,115,234 available to provide in utility assistance benefits

Maricopa County • Human Services Department • Maricopa.gov/HS                                                                         
Assistance to Special Populations
Human Services’ programs that provide direct assistance to targeted 
vulnerable low-income populations with a goal to stabilize those in crisis.
•
Hand in Hand:
•
Emergency flex funds that prevent homelessness
•
In FY24, 3,223 outreach activities; 1,074 unique individuals served
•
Funding is provided by: ARPA, General Fund, and local cities (FY25 total $1.6M)
•
Senior and Adult Services:
•
In-home case management that includes wellness checks (mandated reporters to APS)
•
In FY24, 8,310 of home visits; 6,477 clients
•
Funding is provided by: Area Agency on Aging, General Fund (FY25 total $5.2M)

Maricopa County • Human Services Department • Maricopa.gov/HS                                                                         
Partners
Human Services also provides contracts with nonprofits to provide 
additional crisis response to help with heat response.
•
Emergency Shelter Grants:
•
Funded 5 agencies at locations around the Valley through competitive process
•
Funding is provided by Emergency Shelter Grants ($1M)
•
Helps support overall shelter system that includes 1,424 beds that assisted 8,511 
individuals in FY24
•
Solari / 211:
•
Program to prevent evictions / homelessness which assisted 27,545 callers in FY24
•
Funding is provided by ARPA ($705K) and expires June 30, 2025

Results  from 2024

Heat-Related Deaths Over Time
In 2024, there were 
602* confirmed heat-
related deaths, the first 
decrease in a decade
* This is preliminary data as eight deaths are under investigation

The 2024 heat season was hotter and  
longer than 2023
Days over 110° F
Consecutive Days over 
110° F
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
54
31
70
61
Number of Days Over 110°F in 2023 versus 2024
2023
2024

Strategy #1 Heat Relief Call Center

Strategy #2 Expand Heat Relief Hours
Year
Respite Centers  Cooling Centers
Sites Open until 
7 pm or later 
2023
17
95
56
2024
29*
94
68
Number of respite centers increased by 70% 2023-2024
* Includes the first two overnight respite centers operated by City of Phoenix and 
funded by both ARPA and CDC PHIG dollars in response to Phoenix EMS Data

Heat Response 2024

2025 Maricopa County heat relief initiatives 
Initiative
Update
Budget Allocated
Expanded Evening 
and Weekend Heat Relief Hours
•
Continuation of 2024 
IGA contracts with cities 
and community-based agencies
$2,763,772
•
$2,360,276 Cities
•
$403,500 CBO's
2-1-1 Heat 
Relief Call Center and 
Transportation
•
DES funding for Solari is being 
stretched  by limiting operating 
hours  (9am-7pm)
•
MCDPH funding transportation 
only
$130,000 (PHIG)
Working with academic 
partners to model which 
strategy was most effective
•
New initiative
None
Continuous dashboard 
improvements based on partner 
needs
•
Enhancing dashboard with city 
specific data
Epidemiology funds

Thank You
Acknowledgements: 
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
Office of the Medical Examiner
Human Services Department
Maricopa Association of Governments
Heat Relief Network
Cities and Towns