The summer heat is here, and the City of Phoenix is leading efforts to provide safe, cool spaces for residents this summer. The City’s extended-hour and 24-hour respite locations are now open through at least Sept. 30, as part of the City’s 2025 Heat Response Plan.
24/7 Heat Respite and Navigation Center
For the second year in a row, the City of Phoenix is the only city in Arizona to offer a 24/7 heat respite location. This year, the overnight site is located at 20 W. Jackson St., highly accessible to people walking, riding bicycles, or using public transportation. The facility will provide water and a safe, cool indoor space for anyone who needs relief from the heat overnight. The site will also provide resources for people experiencing homelessness, including navigation and transportation to help people access a wide range of other City services, like shelter, to help end their homelessness.
The sites used for overnight heat respite in 2024, the Burton Barr Library and Senior Opportunities West Senior Center, will return to their traditional roles as cooling centers and hydration stations during normal operating hours.
Expanded Library Hours and Services
This year, the City will also extend operating hours until 10 p.m. at three cooling center locations: Cholla, Harmon, and Yucca Libraries. Extending the hours helps address gaps in heat relief availability during late afternoons, evenings and weekends, which are outside of normal business hours for many Heat Relief Network providers. The three Phoenix libraries are open Monday-Saturdays until 10 p.m. and noon-10 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. New in 2025, full library services are offered at these locations during the extended operating hours, increasing services provided to the entire community from what was offered in 2024. All other Phoenix Public Libraries now serve as cooling centers during regular business hours.
Heat Awareness Week
The City of Phoenix joins the state and other local agencies in recognizing Heat Awareness Week, May 5-9. Throughout the week, local weather, health and government agencies bring awareness to summer safety, heat resources, and more.
A Commitment to Heat Relief
The City of Phoenix continues to set the standard for heat relief efforts, leading the state and region in providing extensive resources aimed at reducing and preventing heat-related deaths. Recognizing that even one heat-related death is too many, the City is committed to evolving its approach every year to address the changing needs of the community and protect the health and well-being of all residents. In summer 2024, the City’s strategic efforts resulted in a 20 percent decline in heat-related 911 calls and first decrease in heat-related deaths countywide in a decade.
For more information and resources, visit phoenix.gov/summer and follow @HeatReadyPHX on social media for heat safety updates throughout the summer.
To find any of the 95+ cooling centers now open in Phoenix, along with respite centers and hydration stations where free bottled water is available, check the Heat Relief Network's countywide map.
