Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Arizona’s intense heat is showing no mercy to homeless people living in their cars. In some cases, entire families cannot find housing, leaving them with no alternative. When Valley temperatures hit a record high Wednesday, Candice Ortiz — who works two jobs — said her car was the best she could offer her family. She said they have been living this way for seven months. "There’s four of us. Sometimes, five," Ortiz said. Ortiz recently took her 8-year-old son to the hospital after he showed signs of heat exhaustion. The car's temperature has reached 125 degrees, and the air conditioning quit months ago.
Arizona’s intense heat is showing no mercy to homeless people living in their cars. In some cases, entire families cannot find housing, leaving them with no alternative. When Valley temperatures hit a record high Wednesday, Candice Ortiz — who works two jobs — said her car was the best she could offer her family. She said they have been living this way for seven months. "There’s four of us. Sometimes, five," Ortiz said. Ortiz recently took her 8-year-old son to the hospital after he showed signs of heat exhaustion. The car's temperature has reached 125 degrees, and the air conditioning quit months ago.
