COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND HEAT RELIEF

Extreme heat is a growing threat in Arizona, especially in Maricopa County. To combat this, Arizona Faith Network has teamed up with key partners to create faith-based heat respite, hydration, cooling, and heat relief centers. In the 2025 season, AFN has welcomed more than 55,000 visits to 17 heat relief centers. Strategically located in high-risk areas, these centers serve as critical lifelines, providing life-saving resources and safe refuge for those most vulnerable to extreme heat.

Our success wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our partners. Together, we work across faith traditions, locations, and with volunteers, as well as city, county, and state entities to make these centers accessible and impactful. Looking ahead, AFN is expanding these heat relief centers into vibrant faith-based community resilience hubs. These hubs will do more than provide heat relief, they’ll tackle the broader challenges of the climate crisis and systemic inequalities. By building local capacity and strengthening community networks, these hubs will empower vulnerable populations, fostering resilience in the face of environmental and social challenges.

Heat Relief Overview
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2026 AFN Heat Relief Centers

Glendale: Respite Centers

Phoenix: Cooling Centers

Phoenix: Respite Centers

Tempe: Cooling Centers

Click/tap on the logos below for maps and lists of heat-relief sites in Maricopa and Pima Counties, including AFN centers.

Read the 2025 Heat Season Report

CLICK HERE FOR REPORT

GET INVOLVED IN AFN’S HEAT RELIEF EFFORTS

Arizona summers are deadly—and for our neighbors experiencing homelessness or heat vulnerability, access to water, shade, and compassion can be life-saving. That’s why AFN coordinates a Heat Relief and Respite Program each year to offer cooling, hydration, safety, and community care across the Valley.

Last year alone, we saw over 55,000 heat relief visits across our sites. In 2026, we need your help more than ever. Please read below to find ways you can get involved.

  • Make a Financial Gift
    Your donation keeps sites open, staffed, and supplied with water, snacks, and critical care items. You can also sponsor a site for a day or a week.
    Click here to give

  • Volunteer at a Heat Relief Site
    Offer a smile, a cold bottle of water, and a safe, welcoming space. Volunteers are essential to creating a compassionate presence at our respite centers.
    Click here to volunteer

  • Host a Community Supply Drive
    Engage your congregation, office, or neighborhood to collect supplies. We’ll support your drive with flyers and coordinate drop-off or pickup.

  • Become a Site Partner
    If your organization has a cool space and caring volunteers, consider becoming a host site. AFN provides signage, training, and operational guidance.

  • Attend a Training
    Our trainings help volunteers and community members understand the impact of extreme heat and how to respond with care and dignity.

  • Offer Your Professional Skills
    Medical professionals, mental health providers, social workers, and chaplains can make a vital difference for guests in need of deeper care.

  • Spread the Word
    Help us get the word out! Share our updates and flyers on social media or in your community. Awareness can save lives.

  • Pray and Advocate
    Keep our neighbors in your prayers, and take action for systemic change. AFN provides tools for faith-rooted advocacy around housing and climate justice.