Phoenix council approves 2026 heat‑response plan and contracts for 24/7 sites, shelters and supplies
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Summary
Council approved Items 2–8, authorizing the city’s 2026 heat‑response plan, a lease for a 24/7 site, contracts with UMOM and Community Bridges, and a multiyear $2.6M heat‑supply program to expand cooling and outreach.
Phoenix City Council on Feb. 24 approved a multi‑pronged 2026 heat‑response plan that expands extended‑hour and 24/7 cooling sites, creates a family‑specific shelter referral contract and funds a multiyear heat‑supply distribution program.
Mayor Kate Gallego framed extreme heat as a public‑health emergency and asked the council to support scaled operations and partnerships. Maricopa County public health officials and city staff presented data showing a decline in heat‑related deaths from 2024 to 2025 but emphasized persistent disproportionate impacts on people who are unhoused, people who use substances and certain racial groups. Dr. Staub of Maricopa County noted the county’s dashboard showed most heat‑related deaths occurred outdoors and that substances were involved in a majority of cases.
City staff proposed four operational updates for 2026: extend successful extended‑hour and 24/7 sites (including continuing the 24/7 site at 20 West Jackson), add two additional sites, launch a city employee training module on heat response, restructure the heat‑relief supply program to onboard a coordinating partner and expand outreach to vulnerable communities such as residents of mobile and manufactured home communities and seniors. Rachel Milne and Office of Homeless Solutions staff described plans to contract with UMOM to hold 20 family shelter units (with gym/hotel voucher back‑up) and to partner with Community Bridges Inc. and other providers for navigation and outreach.
The council approved a package of agenda items (Items 2–8) that included the overall plan, the 24/7 site lease, a contract with UMOM for family shelter referrals, contracts for social service providers, a contract with a coordinating partner for distribution of heat supplies (Thrive365), a contract for heat relief supplies (a multiyear commitment of about $2.6 million, roughly $500,000 per year), and a contract for digital content management for the employee training program. Staff said the extended‑hour and 24/7 operations are estimated at approximately $5,250,000 for the season and would be funded by a blend of Maricopa County ARPA funds, city opioid settlement funds, and City CDBG‑CV funds.
Vice Mayor Hodge Washington moved the motion to approve Items 2–8; Councilwoman Pastor seconded. The clerk recorded a unanimous vote of the council present and the chair declared the motion passed. Following the vote, councilmembers commended staff and partner organizations and highlighted the plan’s focus on families, seniors and mobile home residents.
Staff will provide weekly heat response reports during the season and post updates at phoenix.gov/heat. The contracts and lease approved at the meeting authorize the city to proceed with operations and supplier onboarding for the 2026 heat season.
