heat respite
Heat respite began Monday, June 12 2023 and concluded Friday, August 25 2023 with program hours of 11:00 am-4:00 pm. We give thanks to God for our ministry partners without whom this outreach would be near impossible. If you or your congregation would like to help in the future, we can use packaged snacks, backpacks, men’s gently used tee shirts, men’s gently used jeans, water, juice boxes, and sack lunches. We also welcome congregations who would be willing to serve a hot meal one or more times next summer. If you would like to volunteer with the program or serve a meal next summer, please reach out to the office at officemanager@graceinthecity.com.
Grace in the News!
Why do many Phoenix cooling centers close at the hottest parts of the day?
Health care comes directly to homeless people needing help
History
During a two week period in the summer of 2005, a significant heat wave resulted in the death of more than 30 people. Since this date, the Maricopa County of Government's Heat Relief Network has coordinated and implemented hydration stations, refuge locations, and water donation sites throughout the Valley with the goal of preventing heat related and heat caused deaths among the homeless population and other vulnerable populations
Grace Lutheran Church has been part of this network since its inception. But beyond providing hydration, respite and wellness checks during the summer months, the Heat Respite at Grace Lutheran Church has greater aims. In line with the mission of Grace, the Heat Respite program aspires to reach out to not only the physical needs of all those who come through the doors, but to their fullness as human beings.
In 2019, we served an average of 150 people per day. With changes in our neighborhood due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as downtown development, we served between 40 and 80 people per day in 2021. As with so many aspects of our lives, one effect of the pandemic is not being able to accurately predict what will happen with 2022 heat respite, but we trust the Holy Spirit to guide us!
Key Statistics:
From 2001-2015 there have been 80 heat related deaths a year and 1,569 heat related injuries requiring hospitalization. 88% of these occur during the months of June, July, and August.
68% of these deaths occur outdoors
Of the 32% of heat related deaths that occur indoors, in 87% of the incidences the domicile did not have air conditioning on. The primary reasons for this were that the unit was not functioning or electricity/repairs are too expensive.