In 2024, Phoenix started its very first 24/7 cooling and heat respite center to provide life-saving refuge from extreme desert temperatures. The program was created to give people a place to escape heat at any time of the day or night. The service was aimed at people who may not have access to air conditioning, shelter or other indoor spaces during periods of extreme heat. The center also serves people experiencing homelessness and others who need help during Phoenix's summer heat. Visitors can receive water, use an air-conditioned space, rest in chairs and speak with trained case managers. Those case managers can connect people with housing, shelter, medical treatment, mental health treatment, transportation and other services.
The city launched its first 24-hour heat relief site on May 1, 2024, at Burton Barr Central Library. The site received thousands of visits. In 2025, Phoenix moved the service to a larger building at 20 W. Jackson Street and continued the program as a seasonal 24/7 facility.
