We’ve heard a lot about the Valley’s roughly 200 cooling centers. But some churches and nonprofits offer “ heat-relief respite centers” where people can sleep during hours of operation.
There are less than two dozen heat-relief respite centers in the Phoenix area. These are places where people who are experiencing homelessness can sleep uninterrupted for several hours.
"When you're walking out, you know, at 10, 11, 12 o'clock at night, it's still so hot, there's not that ability for your body to cool down and actually get that restorative rest that it needs," explained Reverend Katie Sexton-Wood, executive director of Arizona Faith Network, which helps coordinate respite center locations.
The centers, however, are not open overnight, though some are open as late as 8 p.m.
"They will ask you a few questions just to see if there's anything immediately that's needed, connect you to further services, give you that hydration, give you food, give you a mat to go lay down or invite you to sit at a table. We always have movies running every day."
Sexton-Wood says these respite centers are also pet friendly.
More stories about Phoenix's heat wave
- Hobbs demands heat plans from Arizona utility companies
- Methamphetamine is a factor in more than half of Maricopa County heat deaths
- AZ's excessive heat continues to make U.S. headlines. Is there relief soon?
- Q&AZ: When you go away on vacation, should you turn off your air conditioning?
- Keeping Phoenix livable in summer is creating record demand for electricity
