
"Cueball," left, talks about his dog Lindsay with neighbor Terry Reed, right, at their tents Friday, May 20, 2022, in Phoenix. Hundreds of homeless people die in the streets each year from the heat, in cities around the U.S. and the world. The ranks of homeless have swelled after the pandemic and temperatures fueled by climate change soar.
PHOENIX (AP) — Hundreds of blue, green and grey tents are pitched under the sun's searing rays in downtown Phoenix, a jumble of flimsy canvas and plastic along dusty sidewalks. Here, in the hottest big city in America, thousands of homeless people swelter as the summer's triple digit temperatures arrive.
The stifling tent city has ballooned amid pandemic-era evictions and surging rents that have dumped hundreds more people onto the sizzling streets that grow eerily quiet when temperatures peak in the midafternoon. A heat wave earlier this month brought temperatures of up to 114 degrees (45.5 Celsius) - and it's only June. Highs reached 118 degrees (47.7 Celsius) last year.
"During the summer, it's pretty hard to find a place at night that's cool enough to sleep without the police running you off," said Chris Medlock, a homeless Phoenix man known on the streets as "T-Bone" who carries everything he owns in a small backpack and often beds down in a park or a nearby desert preserve to avoid the crowds.
"If a kind soul could just offer a place on their couch indoors maybe more people would live," Medlock said at a dining room where homeless people can get some shade and a free meal.
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A homeless encampment grows in size just west of downtown Friday, May 20, 2022, in Phoenix.
Excessive heat causes more weather-related deaths in the United States than hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes combined.
Around the country, heat contributes to some 1,500 deaths annually, and advocates estimate about half of those people are homeless.
Temperatures are rising nearly everywhere because of global warming, combining with brutal drought in some places to create more intense, frequent and longer heat waves. The past few summers have been some of the hottest on record.
Just in the county that includes Phoenix, at least 130 homeless people were among the 339 individuals who died from heat-associated causes in 2021.
"If 130 homeless people were dying in any other way it would be considered a mass casualty event," said Kristie L. Ebi, a professor of global health at the University of Washington.
It's a problem that stretches across the United States, and now, with rising global temperatures, heat is no longer a danger just in places like Phoenix.
This summer will likely bring above-normal temperatures over most land areas worldwide, according to a seasonal map that volunteer climatologists created for the International Research Institute at Columbia University.
Last summer, a heat wave blasted the normally temperate U.S. Northwest and had Seattle residents sleeping in their yards and on roofs, or fleeing to hotels with air conditioning. Across the state, several people presumed to be homeless died outdoors, including a man slumped behind a gas station.
In Oregon, officials opened 24-hour cooling centers for the first time. Volunteer teams fanned out with water and popsicles to homeless encampments on Portland's outskirts.
A quick scientific analysis concluded last year's Pacific Northwest heat wave was virtually impossible without human-caused climate change adding several degrees and toppling previous records.
Even Boston is exploring ways to protect diverse neighborhoods like its Chinatown, where population density and few shade trees help drive temperatures up to 106 degrees (41 Celsius) some summer days. The city plans strategies like increasing tree canopy and other kinds of shade, using cooler materials for roofs, and expanding its network of cooling centers during heat waves.
It's not just a U.S. problem. An Associated Press analysis last year of a dataset published by the Columbia University's climate school found exposure to extreme heat has tripled and now affects about a quarter of the world's population.
This spring, an extreme heat wave gripped much of Pakistan and India, where homelessness is widespread due to discrimination and insufficient housing. The high in Jacobabad, Pakistan near the border with India hit 122 degrees (50 Celsius) in May.

Homeless people sleep in the shade of an overbridge on a hot day in New Delhi, Friday, May 20, 2022. The Indian capital and surrounding areas are facing extreme heat wave conditions.
Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, who heads the Indian Institute of Public Health in the western Indian city Gandhinagar, said because of poor reporting it's unknown how many die in the country from heat exposure.
Summertime cooling centers for homeless, elderly and other vulnerable populations have opened in several European countries each summer since a heat wave killed 70,000 people across Europe in 2003.
Emergency service workers on bicycles patrol Madrid's streets, distributing ice packs and water in the hot months. Still, some 1,300 people, most of them elderly, continue to die in Spain each summer because of health complications exacerbated by excess heat.
Spain and southern France last week sweltered through unusually hot weather for mid-June, with temperatures hitting 104 degrees (40 Celsius) in some areas.
Climate scientist David Hondula, who heads Phoenix's new office for heat mitigation, says that with such extreme weather now seen around the world, more solutions are needed to protect the vulnerable, especially homeless people who are about 200 times more likely than sheltered individuals to die from heat-associated causes.
"As temperatures continue to rise across the U.S. and the world, cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, New York or Kansas City that don't have the experience or infrastructure for dealing with heat have to adjust as well."
In Phoenix, officials and advocates hope a vacant building recently converted into a 200-bed shelter for homeless people will help save lives this summer.

Mac Mais, 34, who has been homeless on and off since he was a teen, sits inside a converted vacant building turned into a 200-bed shelter for homeless people recently opened shown Friday, May 20, 2022, in Phoenix.
Mac Mais, 34, was among the first to move in.
"It can be rough. I stay in the shelters or anywhere I can find," said Mais who has been homeless on and off since he was a teen. "Here, I can stay out actually rest, work on job applications, stay out of the heat."

A homeless man cools off in fountain along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
In Las Vegas, teams deliver bottled water to homeless people living in encampments around the county and inside a network of underground storm drains under the Las Vegas strip.
Ahmedabad, India, population 8.4 million, was the first South Asian city to design a heat action plan in 2013.
Through its warning system, nongovernmental groups reach out to vulnerable people and send text messages to mobile phones. Water tankers are dispatched to slums, while bus stops, temples and libraries become shelters for people to escape the blistering rays.
Still, the deaths pile up.
Kimberly Rae Haws, a 62-year-old homeless woman, was severely burned in October 2020 while sprawled for an unknown amount of time on a sizzling Phoenix blacktop. The cause of her subsequent death was never investigated.

A homeless man works a sign as he sits next a monument to homeless people who have died Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Phoenix.
A young man nicknamed Twitch died from heat exposure as he sat on a curb near a Phoenix soup kitchen in the hours before it opened one weekend in 2018.
"He was supposed to move into permanent housing the next Monday," said Jim Baker, who oversees that dining room for the St. Vincent de Paul charity. "His mother was devastated."

Jim Baker, who oversees that dining room for the St. Vincent de Paul charity, sits in the dining room after dinner Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Phoenix.
Many such deaths are never confirmed as heat related and aren't always noticed because of the stigma of homelessness and lack of connection to family.
When a 62-year-old mentally ill woman named Shawna Wright died last summer in a hot alley in Salt Lake City, her death only became known when her family published an obituary saying the system failed to protect her during the hottest July on record, when temperatures reached the triple digits.
Her sister, Tricia Wright, said making it easier for homeless people to get permanent housing would go a long way toward protecting them from extreme summertime temperatures.
"We always thought she was tough, that she could get through it," Tricia Wright said of her sister. "But no one is tough enough for that kind of heat."
***
Resources for homelessness in every state
Resources for homelessness in every state

The causes and conditions that lead to homelessness are varied and complex. Issues like domestic abuse, addiction, financial hardship, eviction, disabilities, and mental illness can contribute to or cause an often sudden change in living situations that can leave adults, children, families, or veterans without shelter, food, or medical care.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 567,715 people were homeless in 2019. Being that these are the most recent available numbers on a national level and that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the world’s population in 2020, those numbers could potentially be much higher in 2020 and 2021. Homeless individuals already suffer from chronic medical conditions at a rate much higher than housed individuals, and the pandemic has put the most vulnerable members of an already vulnerable population at greater risk.
The issue of homelessness also has disproportionate effects on minority populations. LGBTQ youth experience one of the highest rates of homelessness, with 40% of individuals accessing services identifying as being LGBTQ.
Much of the funding for state programs comes from federal grants provided by the United States Office of Housing and Urban Development. Though federal funds are accessed for services other than those that provide shelter as their primary resource, many homeless shelters, food banks, and free or low-cost medical clinics remain functional through multiple funding and staffing streams, including the utilization of volunteer workers, private donations, and corporate partnerships. Medical services in particular receive little funding from federal sources.
Though there are ample phone numbers to call, from local 211 hotlines to national crisis centers, many homeless people experience challenges accessing resources, transitioning into programs—some of which have stringent protocols to maintain alcohol and drug abstinence—or participate in other treatment programs. Stacker compiled a list of resources in each state that help house and serve local homeless populations using a variety of government, private, charitable, nonprofit, and academic sources.
Click through to find out how your state is helping alleviate homelessness.
[Pictured: An aerial view of San Francisco's first temporary sanctioned tent encampment for the homeless on May 18, 2020.]
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Alabama: Homeless to Independence

Calling 211 is the first step for many seeking assistance for basic housing, food, and health care needs in Alabama. Various local shelters and food assistance programs are available throughout the state, one being Homeless to Independence, which provides necessary supplies for homeless individuals and families.
Alaska: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation

Alaskans experiencing housing emergencies can call 211 during business hours or access services 24/7 online. State and federal programs provide rental and housing assistance throughout the state.
Arizona: Arizona Department of Economic Security

Arizona provides residents in need with rapid housing and emergency shelter options. There are programs for those behind on utility bills, and there are also a number of food banks throughout the state.
Arkansas: Arkansas Department of Human Services

Arkansas provides a list of shelters in each county that can be accessed by those in need of services. In addition, millions of pounds of food are distributed through a network of food banks.
California: California Department of Social Services

California offers numerous programs to help individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness. As of March 2020, there is a newly created program specifically to help those who have contracted or are at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Colorado: Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Resources for housing, employment, and child care are available throughout Colorado. Whether they’re for families or single individuals, for the Native American population, or those with substance use issues, there are specific programs available to provide assistance.
Connecticut: Connecticut State Housing and Homeless Services Unit

Dialing 211 can provide access to various services in Connecticut. The state provides programs for people in need of rental assistance, permanent housing, mental health treatment, and more.
Delaware: Delaware Division of State Services Center

Accessing local programs in Delaware involves utilizing a state-run network of service providers. Emergency housing, financial assistance, and support services can be accessed through the Delaware Division of State Services website.
Florida: Florida Coalition to End Homelessness

Florida provides resources for the homeless through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Feeding America, and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Access to those programs, along with specific locations and contact numbers, can be found by contacting the Florida Coalition to End Homelessness.
Georgia: Georgia Department of Community Affairs

Georgia offers a network of local food banks and pantries that provide supplies and readymade meals. Accessing services starts with a call to 211. The United Way provides connections to services for individuals who are having difficulties meeting their basic needs.
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Hawaii: University of Hawai’i at Manoa

The University of Hawai’i at Manoa has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for homeless people throughout the state. Among the available options are programs to help house those with mental health issues and free medical services for the uninsured.
Idaho: Idaho Housing and Finance Association

Homeless individuals in Idaho are able to access aid through federal programs. The average wait time for a response to a rental assistance application is 12-24 months. For financial education, legal support, immediate eviction mediation, and housing support, organizations like Jesse Tree may be able to help in a matter of days.
Illinois: Illinois Department of Human Services

Help is available in Illinois through its Department of Human Services. The state connects individuals with services to prevent homelessness, provide emergency COVID-19 housing, and protect homeless youth.
Indiana: Indiana Coalition for Homeless Intervention & Prevention

A comprehensive list of local services is provided in the Indiana Coalition for Homeless Intervention & Prevention’s Handbook of Help. Services for veterans, the Latinx community, LGBTQ individuals, and more are listed within.
Iowa: Iowa Finance Authority

Resources for housing assistance arrive from federal funds and are dispersed throughout Iowa by the Iowa Finance Authority. The Iowa Department of Human Services’ Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) provides limited coverage to a handful of counties. Local housing programs with additional services are available, as well.
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Kansas: University of Kansas Medical Center

The University of Kansas Medical Center provides an online list of housing facilities throughout the state. These include programs for homeless veterans and mothers with children who are in need of immediate assistance.
Kentucky: Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky

Nearly all the residents of Kentucky, besides those in Jefferson and Fayette Counties, are able to apply for emergency shelter vouchers through the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky. The organization provides information to connect with legal and eviction prevention services.
Louisiana: Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care

Federally funded agencies in Louisiana list ways to contact and connect with local resources in the state. Various municipalities provide localized services, some of which include emergency housing, street outreach teams, and services for victims of domestic violence.
Maine: Maine State Housing Authority

The Maine State Housing Authority lists emergency shelters by county. Its Stability through Engagement (STEP) program provides short-term rental assistance to individuals in order to assist them in finding more stable, permanent housing.
Maryland: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

Calling 211 in Maryland will help connect homeless individuals with needed resources throughout the state. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development website also lists contacts for veterans services, as well as a concise, printable street card to make services easier to access for homeless individuals in Baltimore.
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Massachusetts: Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development

Massachusetts provides an easily located and accessible directory of resources for individuals who are homeless and need support services. Numerous emergency and longer-term housing supports are available. Resources for the food-insecure are easily accessible and widely available throughout the state.
Michigan: Michigan State Housing Development Authority

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority provides assistance to “extremely low-income households” who meet all application requirements. Their 811 Project Rental Assistance program lists two locations that provide housing, making a total of 12 units available. More resources are available through localized community programs.
Minnesota: Disability Hub MN

Services for homeless or disabled individuals are easily accessible in Minnesota through the Hub, a comprehensive database organized by the state. Resources are separated by county, and individuals seeking assistance can connect with support workers through online chats, by email, or by calling during business hours.
Mississippi: Mississippi United to End Homelessness

Mississippi offers an easy-to-access guide to resources for those with unstable housing. Applications for emergency shelter and long-term housing are available, as well.
Missouri: Missouri Department of Social Services

Missouri offers housing programs that are grant-funded through federal programs. Emergency shelter service inquiries can be utilized by calling 211. Food services, as well as those for victims of domestic violence and for veterans, are also available.
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Montana: Poverello Center, Inc.

Montana’s resources can be utilized by calling 211 or directly reaching out to state organizations. Programs offer resources from housing to food, clothing, and employment services. There are also local religious mission programs that offer support.
Nebraska: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services provides homeless services and can be contacted directly. The state program disperses funds and resources to counties, and services available include help for medical treatment and financial assistance.
Nevada: Nevada Homeless Alliance

According to The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 7,169 individuals, including 1,285 youths without adult supervision, were homeless in Nevada in January 2019. The Nevada Homeless Alliance connects individuals needing support with providers. Services include emergency shelter and employment assistance.
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

The state of New Hampshire provides information about local housing and assistance programs through a 211 hotline. There are six shelters providing specialized programs for youth, substance use treatment, pregnant women, and female ex-offenders.
New Jersey: New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub

New Jersey residents experiencing financial and housing issues during the pandemic can now utilize resources through a newly created COVID-19 Information Hub. Included are links to resources for cash assistance, housing, and medical care.
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New Mexico: New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority

Resources for emergency housing can be found through the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. Local contact numbers for assistance with rent and utilities are available, as well. The Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico has a list of long-term rental properties for those needing permanent, affordable housing.
New York: Coalition for the Homeless

Organizations across New York provide legal, shelter, and food assistance for vulnerable state populations. The Coalition for the Homeless lists local and national hotlines for those needing immediate help and clearly states what services are necessary for homeless populations across the state in order to continue to meet the growing level of need. It also provides reports arguing for more support and funding for assistance programs.
North Carolina: North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

Federal resources provided to North Carolina are split up into county programs. The North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness provides a list of contacts for most counties. Additional resources for homeless children are available, as well.
North Dakota: North Dakota Homeless Coalition

North Dakota homeless resources are broken up by region, and immediate housing requests can be accessed by calling 211. Shelter listings, tenants’ rights information, and COVID-related emergency services are also available.
Ohio: Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio

Ohio provides information on direct housing support through a state hotline. Resources for individuals facing legal challenges are available, as well. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks has a map of locations to obtain free food in each county.
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Oklahoma: HeartLine Oklahoma

Access to resources for those who are homeless, hungry, or under financial duress can be accessed in Oklahoma by calling 211 or another of the state’s hotlines. A limited amount of winter shelter beds are available in Oklahoma City.
Oregon: Housing Oregon

Resources for housing are available to those who currently do not have stable living arrangements in the state. Housing Oregon provides an interactive map of restrooms and hygiene stations in the Portland area. Portland Homeless Family Solutions has a family shelter that can be reached by calling 211 and offers rapid rehousing programs for families in need.
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services

Assistance programs in Pennsylvania are broken up by county and can be accessed by calling 211. There are emergency resources for homeless youth across the state, as well as city-specific services for local homeless populations.
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless

A variety of services can be accessed through a list of contacts at the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. The coalition hotline provides assistance in multiple languages to meet the needs of a wider number of residents. The Rhode Island Food Bank has a map of resources, including local support organizations and food banks that supply meals and groceries.
South Carolina: SCIWAY

Individuals in South Carolina who need to be connected with resources for food and housing can go to SCIWAY (short for South Carolina Information Highway and pronounced “skyway”) for a list of organizations and programs in each county. Lists of local churches and charity organizations are also provided.
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South Dakota: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

South Dakota offers federal assistance to homeless individuals through programs funded by U.S. Housing and Urban Development office, as well as through local organizations. Hotlines are available for immediate needs, while local missions also provide services.
Tennessee: Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Information to help homeless and at-risk individuals in each county is provided by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The state also provides a comprehensive list of locations to receive medical treatment.
West Virginia: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

A list of local shelters in West Virginia is provided by the Homeless Shelter Directory and broken up by town. Hotlines connecting with various support services are available through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. The state’s Bureau for Children and Families can connect individuals with medical, food, and clothing resources.
Wyoming: Wyoming 211

Wyoming provides connections to all available support services through 211, both by phone and online. Also available online are maps of shelters, resources for financial help, and programs for veterans, families, and those with substance use challenges.
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Texas: Texas Health and Human Services

For housing assistance and additional services, individuals in Texas can call 211 or reach out to Texas Health and Human Services. Resources are provided for each local area and provide services for adults with mental illness and families in need. Both permanent housing programs and temporary shelters are available.
Utah: Salt Lake County Homeless Services

Local and state organizations provide services for the homeless in Utah. The Road Home is an organization with shelters, permanent housing programs, and other support services. Hotlines for local, national, and statewide programs are provided by Homeless Services of Salt Lake County.
Vermont: Department of Children and Families

Vermont’s Department of Children and Families provides resources for vulnerable populations in the state. Individuals needing help during business hours can contact the agency directly or call 211 anytime, 24/7. The Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness has a list of contacts for team leaders focusing on local homeless response.
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Virginia: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

A breakdown of local resources and shelters is available for Virginia residents through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website. Seven separate Feeding America food banks are located throughout the state.
Washington: Washington State Department of Commerce

Contact information for programs to help with evictions and housing is available through the Washington State Department of Commerce. Calling 211 will help individuals find local services that can provide direct assistance.
Washington D.C.: U.S. Department of Human Services

Emergency shelters are available in Washington D.C. for both men and women. Some emergency shelters are considered “low barrier” and provide 12-24 hour stays. Transitional family housing resources are available, as well.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

Through the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, people who need assistance can connect with state, local, and federal resources. The agency provides mailing addresses for homeless individuals, as well as a map of facilities around the state that serve homeless youth.
AP Science Writer Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi and AP writers Frances D'Emilio in Rome and Ciaran Giles in Madrid contributed to this report.