Last year, Maricopa County Public Health Department reported 645 heat-related deaths - a startling 52% increase from the prior year.
Extreme heat is a public health issue, especially for those who are unsheltered.
Right now, less than 0.003% of the total population of Maricopa County is experiencing homelessness. Yet, unhoused individuals account for a staggering 45% of heat-related deaths.
Keys to Change and 15 partner organizations serve more than 1,000 unhoused individuals everyday, addressing everything from basic needs, to employment services, to behavioral health, to housing plans at the Key Campus.
Money raised through AZ Gives Day will help fund the 120,000 water bottles distributed monthly throughout the summer across partners at the Key Campus.
If we meet our target bottle count, excess funds will provide other heat relief essentials such as electrolyte packs, cooling towels, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and more.
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