As record-breaking heat grips Tucson this week, local agencies are expanding services aimed at protecting people experiencing homelessness from dangerous temperatures.
The Salvation Army Tucson, in partnership with Pima County, opened its Hospitality House as a temporary cooling center beginning Thursday. The center is scheduled to operate through Sunday, March 22, offering relief during an unseasonably hot stretch that forecasters say could challenge daily temperature records.
Cooling centers are a key public-safety response during extreme heat events in Southern Arizona, where prolonged exposure can lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Local officials routinely urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours and check on vulnerable neighbors…