Homeless Escape Heat at Tempe Public Library

Link to August 26 Arizona Republic article, "Tempe helps homeless get heat-stress relief".

Excerpt: The image of smiling bohemian youths playing guitars or sitting next to their dogs on Mill Avenue comprise just a fraction of Tempe's homeless. Most are chronically homeless and prefer to fade into the woodwork or escape into city parks that are vacant during the day. Most are single men in their 30s to 50s, said Theresa James, homeless and fair-housing coordinator for Tempe. About 25 percent are women and 30 percent are veterans, like Dennis.

There are from 300 to 500 homeless people in the city on any given day throughout the year, James said.

"It is impossible to know exactly how many homeless there are in Tempe. People tend to think the number goes down in the summer, but I don't believe that to be true," she said.

The Tempe Public Library and Orbit shuttle bus are two of the more popular air-conditioned havens for the homeless.