How AZFH Is Responding to Arizona’s Extreme Heat
Arizona’s extreme heat is not a future concern — it is a present‑day public health crisis. As temperatures rise higher and arrive earlier each year, individuals experiencing homelessness face life‑threatening conditions with limited access to shade, hydration, transportation, or air‑conditioned spaces.
In 2026, Arizona experienced record‑breaking heat as early as February and March, signaling another long and dangerous summer ahead. For those living unsheltered, early heat can be just as deadly as peak summer temperatures. This reality is why Arizona’s Family to the Homeless (AZFH) begins heat‑relief efforts early — meeting people where they are, before conditions become even more dangerous.
Why Heat Relief Matters
Extreme heat is one of the leading weather‑related causes of death in Arizona. In 2025, Maricopa County confirmed 427 heat‑related deaths, a sobering reminder that heat exposure remains deadly even as community‑wide efforts reduce year‑over‑year totals. Nearly half of these deaths involved people experiencing homelessness, who face disproportionately higher risk due to prolonged outdoor exposure and limited access to cooling resources.
Heat‑related illness and death are largely preventable. Simple interventions — such as water, electrolytes, sunscreen, cooling towels, and transportation to cooling centers — can mean the difference between life and death. Early outreach is especially critical, as many seasonal heat‑relief sites are not fully activated until later in the summer.
How AZFH Responds
Arizona’s Family to the Homeless provides mobile, barrier‑free heat relief focused on dignity, prevention, and access. Our outreach teams deliver water and cooling supplies directly to unsheltered neighbors — with no appointments, identification, or paperwork required.
Our heat‑relief approach includes:
- Bottled water and electrolyte drinks
- Cooling towels and sunscreen
- Frozen water to extend cooling impact
- Transportation support to help individuals reach safe, air‑conditioned spaces
- Compassionate outreach grounded in trust and respect
By starting early and remaining mobile, AZFH is able to reach individuals who might otherwise fall through the cracks — particularly those unable to access centralized cooling centers.
2025 Impact: What Early Action Makes Possible
Because of community support, in 2025, AZFH provided life‑saving heat relief to 1,568 unsheltered neighbors. Donations helped us:
- Keep hydration stations stocked with cold beverages
- Distribute 800 cooling towels and sunscreen
- Provide 250 transit passes, allowing individuals to reach cooling centers and essential services
We maximized every dollar by freezing donated water and electrolyte drinks, reducing the need for ice and expanding the reach of available resources.
While Maricopa County saw a 30% decrease in heat‑related deaths in 2025, officials continue to emphasize that extreme heat remains a public health emergency — and that sustained, community‑based outreach is essential to saving lives.
Why We Start Early
Heat does not wait for summer — and neither do we. Early‑season temperatures place individuals at risk before traditional relief networks are fully activated. By launching heat‑relief efforts in early spring, AZFH helps prevent illness, reduce emergencies, and support long‑term survival for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Join Us in This Work
Every bottle of water delivered is an act of compassion — and an act of prevention. Whether through financial support, community partnerships, or sharing this message, you can help ensure that no one is left to endure Arizona’s extreme heat alone.
Support Heat Relief Efforts
If you would like to support early heat‑relief outreach, we invite you to visit our 2026 Water Drive for Homeless Heat Relief:
👉 Donate or Learn More:
🌊 2026 Water Drive for Homeless Heat Relief 🌞 | Arizona’s Family to the Homeless Inc
Together, we are saving lives — one bottle at a time.
Interested in donating heat‑relief supplies?
We welcome community partners who would like to support our outreach through in‑kind donations. Please note that monetary donations are most helpful, as they allow AZFH to purchase supplies as needed, respond quickly to changing conditions, and maximize every dollar for the greatest impact.
If you’re interested in donating supplies or partnering with us, please contact the AZFH Giving Hope Outreach Team at [email protected].
Sources & Data References
- Maricopa County Department of Public Health — Heat‑Related Deaths Data
- Arizona Department of Health Services — Extreme Heat Surveillance
- KJZZ / ABC15 — 2025 Heat Mortality Reports