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Chandler expands heat‑relief services with overnight respite center and partnerships
Summary
The city outlined an expanded heat‑relief program including one daytime respite at Ascend, eight cooling centers, and a new overnight respite at the Chandler Senior Center operated by Ascend; staff reported usage figures and partnerships with navigation and 2‑1‑1 services.
City staff and partner Ascend described Chandler’s summer heat‑relief services and early usage figures at a council study session.
Ryan Bach, neighborhood resources staff member, said Maricopa County reported at least 608 heat‑related deaths last year, eight of them in Chandler, and that about half of valley heat deaths involved people experiencing homelessness. Bach said Chandler operates eight cooling centers, one daytime respite at Ascend (California Street) where people can rest, drink and receive services, and a new overnight respite at the Chandler Senior Center that opened June 13 and is operated by Ascend. He said Ascend and city navigators staff the overnight site from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.; Ascend provides dinner and the morning transfer back to Ascend for breakfast. Bach reported an average of 26 overnight participants per night since opening and 51 unduplicated persons per day at the daytime respite, with 168 unduplicated individuals served across day and night since the program began; staff have distributed thousands of bottles of water and hundreds of meals and snacks.
Trinity Donovan of Ascend described client intake and coordination with the city’s navigators and other providers. Bach said Solari (2‑1‑1) provides transportation to cooling centers from across the valley, and that Ascend and city navigators are working to connect respite guests to navigation services and longer‑term housing options. Councilmembers and staff noted that the Salvation Army had shifted how it supports related services this year but still provides day‑time cooling and shower/laundry trailers used by program participants.
Why it matters: Valley heat poses a documented mortality risk, particularly for older adults and people experiencing homelessness. Council members praised the expanded overnight service and asked about outreach, daily supply monitoring, and navigator integration. Bach said outreach has included media, social media, brochures to public safety and nonprofits, and coordination with library staff; an incident command team meets weekly to share operational updates across departments.
Staff requested authority to enter a contract and a user‑facility agreement with Ascend to operate the overnight site; council members asked for continued updates on outcomes and navigator follow‑through. No final vote was taken at the study session; the item will return to council for formal approval of contract documents.
