http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0504homeless0504.html

Valley services reach out to homeless in hot weather

Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor The Arizona Republic May. 4, 2006 12:00 AM

With sweltering temperatures creeping toward the Valley, Phoenix officials say they are better prepared this summer to protect vulnerable residents than last year when the heat claimed at least 10 lives, many of them homeless.

"We've learned some important lessons from last year," said Councilman Greg Stanton, who is chairman of the Regional Continuum of Care, a Maricopa Association of Governments committee that deals with homelessness issues. "And we'll be better prepared this year."

The city is working with 26 faith-based organizations across the Valley to collect and distribute water bottles, provide a cool escape from the heat and check on elderly residents to make sure they're using cooling systems or can get to a cool place.

The plans kick in when the National Weather Service issues certain heat advisories, such as temperatures significantly exceeding the day's average.

"We're going to rely on the Weather Service to give us information, but common sense will prevail," said Marcus Aurelius, Phoenix's homeland-security coordinator. "If we have conditions that we're not comfortable with, we're going to respond appropriately.

"It's more than just handing out water. It's education, reminders to the public to take care of themselves and check on their senior neighbors if they're vulnerable to the heat."

Tim Jent, 36, lives in a Phoenix homeless shelter and knows how to survive the summer heat.

"You have to take really good care of yourself and drink a lot of water," Jent said. "Some of these people have a lot of pride, but there is no need to stay in the heat. There's all kinds of places you can go. You can always find shelter."

Some of those places will be the Human Services Campus Day Resource Center at 10th Avenue and Jefferson Street; the Phoenix Rescue Mission, near 35th Avenue and Durango Street; and United Methodist Outreach Ministries, near 32nd and Van Buren streets.

St. Mary's Food Bank agreed to store a couple of thousand bottles of water for the city. Once the temperatures get even higher, those bottles fly off the pallets.

"We've got the space," said Ben Bradley, the food bank warehouse manager. "And if this is helping prevent death because of dehydration, that's huge."

Steven Napora, 56, is homeless and doesn't plan to weather the Valley heat.

"I'll be going where it's cooler," Napora said. "I'll be gone in a few days. But most people who are here (homeless) are from somewhere else, and they aren't used to the heat."

Janice Hartman, 58, is one of those newcomers. She's been staying at a homeless shelter 23 weeks.

"I drink water like crazy," she said, holding up a half-filled bottle of water to prove it. "I always have my water with me."

She said she too plans to head for cooler climates.

"I don't plan on being here in the summer," she said. "But if I am, God will see me through."

Reach the reporter at monica.alonzo-dunsmoor@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2478.