Phoenix City Adds Shelter Beds, Invests In Solutions For Homelessness

Phoenix AZ

04 February, 2021

2:44 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Phoenix: February 3, 2021 The City of Phoenix is investing millions of dollars to meet the needs of those in our community experiencing homelessness. This includes efforts to not only assist those currently lacking shelter, but also those struggling to stay in their homes as the city works to provide more affordable housing options. The city has committed $20 million from the 2020-2021 fiscal budget and more than $150 million in federal grant funding to these issues. The money is used to help thousands of Phoenicians find shelter, work and long-term solutions to the challenges of homelessness. Maricopa County is home to nearly 7,500 individuals experiencing homelessness. More than half of those people lack adequate shelter, and that number is growing steadily. While this is a problem throughout the county and state, homelessness is principally addressed in the city of Phoenix and with local non-profit partners. There are approximately 1,800 shelter beds available in Maricopa County. 83% of those are in the city of Phoenix. Here is a look at how the city budget and federal grants are being used in our community. COUNCIL APPROVES MORE BEDS During the Phoenix City Council meeting on Wednesday, the council voted to add hundreds of additional beds to the Human Services Campus near 13th Ave & Madison in downtown Phoenix. The newly approved expansion will provide an additional 275 beds, bringing the total to 1,788. HOUSING AND SHELTER PARTNERSHIPS The city of Phoenix relies on community partners who are dedicated to providing shelter, food and support services for individuals in the community experiencing homelessness. This includes organizations such as United Methodist Outreach (UMOM), Chicanos Por La Causa, Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), Native American Connections, Community Bridges and Southwest Behavioral Health Services. Grants are provided to these organizations from both city and federal funds to support their community efforts. SUMMER HEAT RELIEF The city used the Phoenix Convention Center during the hottest months of the year to set up a Heat Relief Respite center. Buses took individuals from the area surrounding the Human Services Campus to the site, providing a reprieve from the heat for more than 27,000 people experiencing homelessness. The site also provided 46,410 meals and more than 64,000 bottles of water over the course of three months. Funds were also provided to Justa Center, which serves the senior homeless population to purchase an air-conditioned tent for their parking lot. St. Vincent de Paul also received funds to add shade structures and staffing to help those on the street receive shelter from the sun. EMERGENCY SHELTER OPTION Using a hotel property, Project Haven has 95 separate units for those most vulnerable during the pandemic. CASS staff provides case management services and emergency shelter while more permanent housing opportunities are found.. HOUSING VETERANS Last month, Phoenix closed on a vacant property which will be used to provide housing and services for homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. The $10.5 million project will provide 174 rooms for those veterans, along with a commercial kitchen and conference room where those who served in the military will have access to more stable housing, food and other services. AFFORDABLE HOUSING The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying an already existing housing crisis. Housing Phoenix Plan launched in 2019 addressing the city's housing challenges created projects and goals to increase affordable housing options. This includes the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).This on-going project utilizes $29 million in grant funding to refurbish the state's largest concentration of public housing. The grant money is being used to revitalize the Edison-Eastlake Community. 577 units of obsolete public housing will be converted into more than 1,000 mixed-income modern housing units. An additional 177 new mixed-income homes, some as large as 5 bedrooms, are under development in the Soluna Apartments. In addition, the city allocated $20 million to turn an obsolete public housing complex at 14th St. & Monroe into a new apartment complex. The Monroe Gardens will include 78 energy-efficient units. The HUD Rental Assistance Demonstration program caps residents housing costs at 30 percent of their adjusted income. RENT AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE In addition to the funds invested by the City, Phoenix has also secured nearly $82 million in federal grants approved by Congress including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) funding as well as the Omnibus Spending Bill to support keeping people in their homes. The initial $29 million was used to offset the economic impact of COVID-19 on Phoenix families, providing them help paying their mortgage or rent and paying for utilities. This money helped 6,616 families keep a roof over their heads. Another 385 vulnerable refugee or asylum-seeking families also received housing assistance. Beginning next month, Phoenix residents can apply for a portion of an additional $51 million grant. This money is specifically earmarked for renters impacted by economic conditions affected by the pandemic. The city also dedicated nearly $12 million in CARES funding to further serve the needs of the homeless community during the pandemic. This includes more than $4 million given to UMOM, a Phoenix shelter that has been providing housing and services for families and single women experiencing homelessness for more than 50 years. CASS received more than $6 million to serve a large population of seniors and disabled individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Grants were also provided to Native American Connections to provide services for youth as well as money for housing vouchers designed to supplement those who can't pay the full amount of their monthly rent. HOW YOU CAN HELP We know our community wants to help, but Covid has presented unique challenges for supporting those experiencing homelessness. Maricopa County Department of Public Health has established a Give Smart website to provide the best ways to provide support to people experiencing homelessness. Giving to those panhandling on the street may satisfy hunger for the moment, but it unintentionally withholds people from seeking assistance from organizations that not only can provide a hot meal in a safe environment, but who also provide supportive services that can help end homelessness. Street giving also creates crowds which puts an already vulnerable population's health at risk. It keeps people on the streets and negatively impacts communities. By giving smart, you can be part of creating real, long-lasting change. This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author's own.