In 2024, Phoenix started its very first 24/7 cooling and heat respite center to provide life-saving refuge from extreme desert temperatures

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.

Why Phoenix created a 24/7 heat respite center?

Phoenix faces periods of triple-digit summer temperatures. Heat can remain a problem after sunset because overnight temperatures can stay high. The situation can be difficult for people without access to an air-conditioned home or shelter.

The 24/7 cooling center was created because many regular public facilities do not remain open overnight. Libraries, community centers and other public buildings have operating schedules. A person needing protection from heat after those facilities close may have limited choices.

The heat respite center fills that gap by remaining open around the clock during the operating season. Its main purpose is life safety. The center provides an indoor place where people can escape heat and reduce their risk of heat-related illness.

The program also has a resource-navigation role. Visitors can meet case managers who can help them find shelter, permanent housing, medical treatment, mental health services and other assistance.

The first site opened in May 2024

Phoenix opened its first-ever 24/7 heat respite site on May 1, 2024, at Burton Barr Central Library. The site was used during the summer heat season and received thousands of visits. It gave people access to air conditioning, water and a place to rest when other cooling options were unavailable.

The information about the program also refers to 20 W. Jackson Street in connection with Phoenix's 24/7 cooling service. The program timeline shows that the first 24/7 site was at Burton Barr Central Library in 2024, while the larger 20 W. Jackson Street facility opened on May 1, 2025. The 20 W. Jackson Street location then reopened for the 2026 season on May 1. This distinction is important when looking at the development of Phoenix's 24/7 heat respite program.

Phoenix moved the service to a larger downtown building

On May 1, 2025, Phoenix opened the expanded 24/7 heat respite facility at 20 W. Jackson Street, near Jackson Street and 1st Avenue in downtown Phoenix. The city leases the building for the program. The facility covers about 20,000 square feet. The downtown location also places the center near a large population and close to services that visitors may need.

The facility is intended to give people a place where they can feel safe enough to discuss their circumstances with case managers. The service is not limited to cooling. It is also designed to help people connect with resources.

What services are available inside the center?

The 20 W. Jackson Street facility provides several basic services for people seeking relief from the heat. Visitors can use air-conditioned seating areas and access drinking water. The facility also has areas where people can rest in chairs. The center does not provide beds. Instead, people can rest in designated seating areas while receiving help from staff.

Available services and supplies include:

• Air-conditioned indoor seating
• Cold drinking water
• Ice
• Cooling towels
• Hats
• Safe areas for rest
• Case management
• Referrals to shelter
• Connections to permanent housing
• Connections to medical treatment
• Connections to mental health treatment
• Transportation and service referrals
• Family spaces
• Areas for women and children
• Pet accommodations

The center allows visitors to bring pets. It also has an enclosed outdoor space where pets can receive relief. Rooms are designated for families with children and women. These spaces are intended to provide an area where people can receive heat relief while staying with family members.

Case managers help visitors find other services

One part of the Phoenix heat respite center is direct contact with trained case managers. Visitors check in with staff when they arrive. Case managers can assess what type of assistance a person may need and provide referrals. Those referrals can include shelter placement, housing services, medical treatment and other programs.

The city has said that some visitors to the 20 W. Jackson Street facility were connected with housing or other services during the first few days after the site opened. This means the center operates as more than a place to escape high temperatures. It also functions as a point where people can begin connecting with longer-term assistance.

The 2026 season began on May 1

The 20 W. Jackson Street location reopened on May 1, 2026, for the city's 2026 heat season. The seasonal operation runs from May 1 through September 30. During this period, the facility operates 24 hours a day.

The center provides cooling space, water, case management and connections to shelter and other resources for people who need protection from heat. The service is particularly relevant as Phoenix continues to experience periods of high daytime and overnight temperatures.

Other cooling centers operate across Phoenix

The 24/7 facility is part of a larger heat relief system operated by the City of Phoenix. The city also operates two extended-hours cooling centers that are free and open to the public. Justa Center is located at 1001 W. Jackson Street. It operates daily from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cholla Library is located at 10050 Metro Parkway E. It operates Monday through Saturday until 9 p.m. On Sundays and holidays, it is open from noon to 9 p.m. These locations provide additional options for people who need a place to cool down during the day or evening.

Phoenix has more than 60 heat relief sites

The city's heat response system extends beyond the three locations mentioned above. Phoenix operates a regional heat relief network with more than 60 sites. The network includes cooling centers and hydration stations. These sites are scheduled to remain available through September 30.

The network provides different options depending on where a person lives or where they are when temperatures rise. Some locations operate for extended hours, while the 20 W. Jackson Street facility provides access throughout the day and night.

Transportation is also available

People who need transportation to a cooling center or another heat-relief location can call 2-1-1. The transportation assistance line operates daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This service can help people who may know they need a cooling location but do not have a way to reach one.

The availability of transportation is part of the city's wider approach to heat response. Cooling locations can only help people who can reach them, so transportation information is included in the heat relief network.

How the program fits into Phoenix's heat response?

The 24/7 cooling center is one part of Phoenix's response to extreme heat. The city combines indoor cooling spaces, hydration stations, extended-hour facilities, transportation assistance and social service connections.

The program was also developed as heat conditions changed in the region. Overnight temperatures have reached record levels during recent summers, while homeless shelters across the Valley have faced capacity limits.

The first 24-hour site at Burton Barr Central Library provided a place for people to go when other facilities were closed. The move to the 20 W. Jackson Street building expanded the amount of space available and added facilities for families and pets.

The city has also reported that the use of extended-hour and round-the-clock cooling locations contributed to a change in the pattern of increasing yearly heat-related deaths across the region.

For Phoenix residents and visitors, the heat relief network provides several options during the summer. The 24/7 center at 20 W. Jackson Street is the main round-the-clock location, while other cooling centers and hydration stations provide additional support through September 30.