This summer, the City of Palo Alto will expand its resources to include cooling centers as part of a collective effort to address California’s homelessness crisis.

According to Santa Clara County’s 2025 Point-In-Time count, Palo Alto’s homeless population increased by 113% from 2023. 

Additionally, extreme heat days have become more common in recent California summers, with the average temperature in California rising from 75 degrees to 77.2 degrees in the past 30 years, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

With another summer approaching, these centers provide unhoused individuals with a safe place to reside during periods of harsh weather, such as extreme heat and poor air quality, and can be found at all five Palo Alto public libraries during regular hours.

These centers were expanded from Palo Alto’s Overnight Warming Locations, which were similarly designed for weather such as heavy rain and wind. The centers were first introduced as a pilot program in 2024.

This is the latest step in Palo Alto’s efforts to address homelessness. Homekey Palo Alto, an interim housing shelter with on-site support, is capable of serving more than 200 people per year and began construction in 2023, with completion scheduled for early 2026. 

In 2025, the city expanded its safe parking programs, and more recently, the Palo Alto City Council approved a ban on “vanlording,” which is expected to be enforced next year. Other efforts, such as building more affordable housing, are also underway.