Phoenix nonprofits upping care efforts for homeless following record heat deaths

By Sarah Robinson

On June 5, 2024

It’s that time of year; the 110s are back. Arizona’s Family has declared First Alert Weather days for Wednesday through Friday of this week, expecting excessive heat that can be dangerous.

Last year was the hottest and most deadly summer on record in Maricopa County; many of those who died were homeless.

On Tuesday, the eve of the first major heat wave of 2024, homeless shelters and care centers are prepping to help those living on the streets.

According to the Phoenix Rescue Mission, even 15 minutes of exposure to high heat can cause permanent damage.

That’s why they have workers driving around searching for people on the street. Another Phoenix homeless care organization, Circle The City, is doing the same.

“I don’t think we can let our guard down at all this summer or that we have taken care of all of those needs,” said Dr. William Ellert, the Chief Medical Officer for Circle the City.

“It’s really important during the summer, we are just trying to get people off the streets,” said Nathan Smith, the Director of Programs for the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

The organizations say they are focused on reducing the trend of rising heat deaths.

According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, last year broke the record for heat-related deaths in Maricopa County with 645.

Most of those involved other risks at play, like drugs, alcohol, and homelessness.

“There are so many factors that make people not go get the care they need which is why we have street medicine to begin with because we try to meet people where they are at,” Ellert said.

Circle the City is a group providing outpatient healthcare to the homeless in Phoenix.

Ellert says they’ve had to get creative with how they are caring for those most vulnerable in 2024. “The thing that we have added this year that we have not done other years is IV hydration,” said Ellert.

Medical staff at Circle the City are bringing IV drips to the streets. Ellert says this tool has already proven effective at reducing heat exhaustion and stroke risk. He says it is good at taming dehydration before it reaches a critical point requiring hospitalization.

“We do believe that it is going to be a critical need this summer and we need to do everything in our power to minimize the risk of heat-related deaths, injuries, and illness,” Ellert said.

While Circle the City provides healthcare to people on the streets, Nathan Smith with Phoenix Rescue Mission works to get people off the streets and into shelters.

“We transport people to respite stations…We have drivers out in the city of Glendale, matter-of-fact we have two of them working in the City of Glendale and they do outreach to find people struggling through heat effects,” Smith said.

Their big goal is to help people access not just shelters but permanent residential housing–and they have succeeded.

“Just a second ago I signed a document, commissioning $498 and change so that we could help with the downpayment for an individual that we are helping move into an apartment. That person is living in the streets and working at the airport currently. He gets himself together and he gets dressed up and goes to work every day. But he is suffering through the heat effects,” said Smith.

Smith says Phoenix Rescue Mission recently broke its record for getting the most people out of the streets and into housing. In April, the organization helped 94 people into shelters or permanent housing.

Both Smith and Ellert say they still feel more can be done, but they are hopeful the improvements made will reduce the number of heat deaths this year.

Four heat deaths have occurred so far this year, and 48 more are under investigation. That’s why both organizations say it’s important to monitor people on the street this summer.

If you would like to donate to the Phoenix Rescue Mission, click here. Alternatively, you can make a donation to Circle the City by clicking here.

This piece was republished from AZFamily.