With Phoenix temperatures reaching beyond 100 and homeless shelters filling up, Phoenix Rescue Mission’s annual Code:Red heat relief campaign is underway. They aim to collect and distribute 2 million water bottles to people experiencing homelessness. The campaign is scheduled to continue through Sept. 30.
Since kicking off on May 1, the charitable organization has collected 646,448 water bottles and distributed 3,142 Hope Totes containing heat relief and hygiene supplies. The campaign has also performed 114 ‘rescues,’ meaning managers connect an unhoused person with a short or long-term housing placement.
Maggi Mitchell, Phoenix Rescue Mission Street Outreach Manager, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss how this campaign has helped the homeless population amid rising Phoenix temperatures.
Mitchell is unsure if there has been a difference in the shelter situation compared to previous years. However, she noted that public outreach has increased this year.
“There is definitely an increase in public outreach. We have started our heat relief programs throughout the valley, where we’ll help transport individuals to a heat relief center to try and get them out of the heat,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell explained that the program’s services include transportation to cooler areas.
“All across the valley, we have our heat respite centers and our cooling centers. And those are ran through Maricopa County. The Phoenix Rescue Mission will provide transportation to and from those to try and help our neighbors get out of the heat for a little bit. It’s a place where they can rest and get services as well,” Mitchell said.
