Phoenix cooling center for homeless seniors is busier. It's also planning an expansion

A cooling center that provides services for homeless seniors in downtown Phoenix is seeing more visitors than usual this summer.

Justa Center is one of the only day programs in the city for homeless seniors. Dean Scheinert is the executive director, and he says they’ve been averaging around 150 to 175 visitors per day.

And when it was really hot last week, they packed in around 200 people.

“Many of them, as you know, have serious health, both physical and mental challenges, and the heat just exacerbates those conditions,” he explains.

Besides being a cool space, visitors here can get a meal, cool wraps and water, as well as basic healthcare. Scheinert says this summer has been busier than previous years — but not necessarily because there are more unhoused seniors.

“They're more informed about where to go.”

Scheinert says the city has done a better job getting the word out to older unhoused people looking for services. According to Phoenix officials, more unhoused people are now in shelters compared to this time last year.

Justa Center is planning to offer three permanent housing options later this fall.

“And we're hoping that they'll be done in late September. And we will rent them out at a very reasonable rate to members as permanent housing.”

Scheinert says another goal is to expand their nursing clinic so they can provide more healthcare beyond what they currently offer, which includes vaccines, basic wound care and offering over the counter medications.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify the possible reasons for the increase of homeless seniors seeking services at Justa Center.