PHOENIX — With excessive heat warnings in place through Friday, air conditioners are likely to be working overtime. If broken, it can take a huge toll on your household budget, but Maricopa County has programs to help eligible families during times of crisis.

Peoria resident Rebecca Myers has benefited from the program. She showed ABC15 her own air conditioning unit and she now works fine. The temperature in her house is now 72 degrees, which is a lot different than it was just a few weeks ago.

“It was at least 90 degrees inside,” she said. “It was pretty miserable.”

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It was because her unit was blowing hot air, the outside temperature was in the triple digits, and it was scorching hot air. Myers said she called a repairman and was told it would cost $10,000 to replace the entire unit.

However, through her work she learned: Maricopa County HVAC Repair and Replacement Fundprovides assistance to qualified personnel to repair air conditioning units.

“The demand and need for this service remains great,” said Maricopa County Welfare Director Jacqueline Edwards. Edwards says he helped 500 families through the program last year. She said the Maricopa County Oversight Board has allocated an additional $10 million to the American Rescue Act Fund, which will help at least 500 more people this year, bringing the total funding to $18 million.

“We will continue to work with the family to meet these needs, using the funds that are available, albeit limited, to us,” Edwards said.

human habitat runs an emergency home repair program for West Valley households. There are also federal programs for eligible families. Arizona Housing Authority.

Myers said he wanted to thank the county for keeping his family safe and healthy this summer.

“I was very relieved,” she said. “While I’m not home, the kids are at home during the summer. Having them in a hot house is pretty miserable and that’s all I could think about while I was at work… kids are hot It’s pretty bad to open the door to cool off in the summer.”