Heat Deaths Shift Indoors in Maricopa County As Cooling Costs Bite Low‑Income Households

As Phoenix approaches what may be its hottest year on record, Maricopa County public health data reveal a troubling shift: a growing share of heat-related deaths are occurring indoors, often in homes where residents cannot afford to run or repair air conditioning.

Preliminary county figures reported to KJZZ show 230 confirmed heat-related deaths in 2026, with an additional 567 cases under investigation — a total roughly 60% higher than last year. Officials say deaths briefly dipped in 2024 (the first decrease in a decade) and fell about 30% in 2025 before rising again this year.

Where And Why The Risk Is Rising

One striking change: the indoor share of heat-related fatalities climbed to about 34% in 2026, up from roughly 24% across 2023–2025. Public health analysts link many of these indoor deaths to lower-income households that face difficult tradeoffs between paying for food, rent, medical care and utility bills — or lack funds to repair broken air conditioners.

Phoenix recorded 29 nights at or above 90°F in 2026, more than four times the 1991–2020 average for such hot nights. Officials warn that sustained overnight heat — when temperatures never drop enough to allow the body to recover — can be as deadly or deadlier than the hottest afternoons.

"It seems to be those overnight lows that aren't getting below 90, particularly on consecutive days, that seems to be riskiest," said Dr. Jeff Johnston, Maricopa County chief medical examiner.

Human Impact

People without stable housing or reliable cooling are among the most vulnerable. Jonathan Nelson, a Phoenix resident experiencing homelessness, described serious health impacts: "I've been in the hospital because of the heat. I've been in kidney failure because of the heat... This heat this year is by far the worst year ever in Phoenix."

"Folks are really struggling," said Jessica Berg, chief program officer at St. Vincent de Paul. "We're seeing that decrease in folks' ability to get food for themselves, and they're having to choose between food and rent and utilities, medical bills, transportation — all of it."

Relief Efforts And Funding Challenges

Local governments and community groups have expanded heat-relief services. The Maricopa Association of Governments' Heat Relief Network operated more than 200 sites offering free water and indoor cooling this year, and the Phoenix City Council approved over $5 million for relief operations. Phoenix's downtown 24-hour relief site logged more than 37,000 visits since May.

However, many of those services rely on one-time federal funds. Much of the county's relief funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which expires at year-end, and live operators for 211 Arizona — the service that helps connect people to cooling centers — are expected to lose funding early next year. Officials warn that sustaining outreach and cooling access without continued support will be difficult.

Broader Context

Extreme heat is increasing health risks and prompting policy responses beyond Maricopa County. Reporting highlights linked trends: lower-income people face higher heat-mortality risk in other countries, rising heat-linked deaths across the U.S. Southwest, Nevada laws protecting basic necessities during heat waves, and an estimated ~237,000 annual emergency department visits nationwide for heat-related conditions.

Public health leaders say sustained funding, expanded access to reliable cooling, and targeted outreach to vulnerable populations will be critical to prevent further deaths as heat seasons grow longer and hotter.