OUR WORK

Extreme heat kills more people each year than most other natural disasters combined. The number of people exposed to extreme heat rises every year with accelerating urbanization and climate change. Among the places in the United States most vulnerable to extreme heat is Maricopa County, Arizona.

Extreme heat is a mounting problem in Arizona communities, evidenced by increased death rates due to heat-related illnesses over the past five years. In response to these challenges, Arizona Faith Network is working with key partners to support developing and managing community cooling centers strategically placed in neighborhoods where residents are most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

In response to rising temperatures and needs of the most vulnerable in our community, Arizona Faith Network has launched an initiative to help establish faith-based hydration, cooling, and heat relief respite centers throughout the valley. In partnership with the Heat Relief Network, our faith-based organizations, and other partners, AFN is working to establish new centers throughout Maricopa County during the summer of 2023. These centers will be strategically placed in areas with heat-vulnerable residents as determined in partnership with Arizona State University and the Heat Relief Network.

We require nondiscriminatory practices in all of our cooling-centers and require people not to be discriminated on based upon age, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or familial status. We also highly encourage people to be open to pets coming in their cooling centers. All Cooling Centers are required to follow CDC guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Heat Relief Information & Resources

• Transportation Program – Heat Relief
  (rides to Cooling Centers and Emergency Heat Relief Stations)
  

BECOME A CENTER

HYDRATION CENTER

A hydration center is a location where individuals can go to receive bottled water and other collected donated items. These can be indoors or outdoors.

COOLING CENTER

A cooling center is an Indoor, air-conditioned location that offers hydration. Ex: Most libraries, faith communities during office hours, or places of business.

HEAT RELIEF RESPITE CENTER

A Heat Relief Respite Center Indoor, air-conditioned location that offers hydration and allows for uninterrupted rest, sitting or lying down (depending on each facility) during hours of operation. Ex: Places of worship or facilities with the ability to allow visitors reasonable rest options.

If you are interested in opening a faith-based cooling center please connect with Rev. Katie Sexton-Wood at katie.sexton@azfaithnetwork.org. Learn more by watching our webinar, “How to Become a Cooling Center.”