From Arizona Faith Network and Arizona Interfaith Power & Light:
Arizona is facing a growing extreme heat crisis, and we need your voice now.
Over the last several years, communities across Arizona expanded cooling and heat respite centers, transportation assistance, outreach teams, and emergency heat response systems using temporary federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Those federal funds expire at the end of 2026.
Without continued investment, Arizona risks losing critical life-saving heat-relief infrastructure that communities across the state now rely on during dangerous summer temperatures.
Extreme heat is one of the leading weather-related causes of death in Arizona. More than 900 Arizonans died from heat-related causes in both 2023 and 2024. These deaths impacted housed and unhoused individuals alike, including seniors, outdoor workers, families, medically vulnerable residents, and people living without reliable cooling.
We need Arizona leaders to act now and support dedicated Extreme Heat Mitigation funding in the FY2027 Arizona State Budget.
Current Proposed Heat Relief Funding:
$4.2 million for Cooling Centers and Heat Relief Infrastructure
$3.7 million for Heat Relief Training
$1.5 million for Statewide Heat Call Center Operations
$500,000 for Critical Transportation Services
$130,000 for Statewide Heat Surveillance and Data Systems
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Contact Your Legislators
Ask: “Please support funding for Extreme Heat Mitigation in the FY2027 Arizona Budget.”
Find your lawmaker here: www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator .
Share your stories:
Experiences with extreme heat
Cooling center or respite site experiences
Impacts on seniors, workers, families, unhoused neighbors, and medically vulnerable residents
Why heat relief matters in your community
2. Contact the Governor
Thank Governor Hobbs for supporting Extreme Heat Mitigation efforts and urge continued long-term investment in Arizona heat resilience and public health infrastructure.
Contact the Governor Here: azgovernor.gov/contact .
3. Sign the Organizational Letter
Sign the organizational letter here: https://forms.gle/ikKYZHw9dZFMU2sJ8 .
Encourage your congregation or organization to sign on to the statewide support letter.
Share this action alert with your friends, colleagues, and relevant organizations.
We all face the challenge of extreme heat. By acting together and urging lasting investment in mitigation and coordinated response, we safeguard lives and strengthen Arizona’s resilience. Thank you for making Arizona safe and stronger.