Driving Equity in Heat Relief: How Just Ask Mia and Lyft are Connecting Arizona Families to Cooling Centers
When extreme heat hits, finding a designated relief center is only half the battle. For thousands of Arizonans without reliable transportation, knowing where to go doesn’t mean having a way to get there.
At Just Ask Mia, our mission is grounded in removing systemic barriers and ensuring no one slips through the cracks—whether that’s a family seeking food assistance or a neighbor looking for a safe place to cool down. Today, we are proud to celebrate a cross-sector partnership with Lyft to help bridge this crucial transportation gap.
Through this collaboration, individuals across Arizona can now request free rides on Lyft directly through the Just Ask Mia platform to travel safely to designated heat relief centers throughout the community.
Creating meaningful impact requires innovative partnerships. By integrating Lyft’s platform into the Just Ask Mia ecosystem, we are meeting community members right where they are with direct, dignified solutions.
“No one should have to choose between staying safe from extreme heat and having a way to get there. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Just Ask Mia to help put free, reliable rides directly in the hands of Arizona families who need them most,” said Francisco Avalos, Lyft Senior Public Policy Manager. “Transportation is often the missing link in community safety nets, and partnerships like this one show what’s possible when we build solutions around the people who need them most.”
To ensure these resources directly support heat safety during peak summer months, ride codes are specifically calibrated for travel to verified, official heat relief locations. This targeted approach guarantees that resources are used responsibly while connecting individuals straight to the life-saving cooling centers they need.
How It Works
When community members connect with Mia, either on the web at justaskmia.org, a hosting partner site, or by texting ‘Family’ or ‘Familia’ to 877-558-2261, they can ask Mia to “Find Heat Relief Transportation.” Mia guides them step-by-step through generating a code and redeeming their ride in the Lyft app.
Meeting the Community Where They Are: On-the-Ground Outreach
True impact pairs immediate aid with long- term pathways to support. To complement Just Ask Mia as a digital solution, members of Valley Leadership’s Impact Maker Teams hit the pavement with hands-on support.
Through targeted water bottle outreach (Thank you Molina Health Care), team members distributed cold water to unhoused community members battling Arizona’s extreme temperatures while sharing information on Just Ask Mia. By pairing immediate, lifesaving hydration with access to long-term transportation solutions, our volunteers ensure that help reaches those who need it most, right when they need it.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Lyft
We extend our deepest gratitude to Lyft for stepping up as a corporate champion for Arizonans. Partnerships like this embody our core guiding principle: Strengthen Systems, Not Just Solutions. By working together across sectors, we are turning systemic obstacles into actionable pathways to safety.
To learn more about hosting Just Ask Mia on your organization’s platform or joining us in expanding support resources across Arizona, visit us at justaskmia.org.
Thank you to our partners.
