Title
Office of Homeless Solutions Program Report
Description
This report is issued monthly to provide the City Council with an update regarding the City’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness within our community by the Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS). This report does not encompass the totality of the City’s efforts to address homelessness but rather provides a review of the key highlights from the preceding month and an update on major upcoming projects.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix is committed to working with the community, service providers and our regional partners to implement regional solutions to address homelessness and mitigate impacts to neighborhoods. The information below are highlights from OHS in the areas of shelter, outreach, procurement and success stories.
Safe Outdoor Space (SOS) Update
To address the need to relocate unsheltered individuals camping in the area surrounding the Key Campus (formerly the Human Services Campus) who were willing to accept an alternative placement solution other than indoor shelter, the City of Phoenix made available a safe, outdoor structured campground site. The site, operated in partnership with the Key Campus, Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI) and Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP), offers 200 camp sites for up to 300 individuals, including on site services, such as heat/winter respite, case management, meals and behavioral health services.
Program Update
The SOS is operating under a limited capacity while construction is being completed. Between Nov. 1, 2023, and May 20, 2024, the SOS has served a total of 508 individuals, of which 135 are still staying at the site. There have been 373 individuals that have exited the SOS, of which 42 percent have had a positive exit which may include moving to an emergency shelter, reuniting with family, and five people obtaining their own apartment. The positive exits seen are a result of the collaboration and coordination between OHS, CBI, and the Key Campus partners working with each individual and leveraging each partner’s expertise and resources.
SOS Success Story
Since arriving to the SOS, a 33-year-old male that had been experiencing homelessness since 2018 obtained employment through Johnny Rockets, as part of the kitchen staff. Upon completing the case management intake with CBI, the client’s case manager observed anxiety issues and referred him to a nurse practitioner for ongoing medication management. The client had an eviction on his record that was creating a barrier to securing housing. The SOS case management team was able to obtain all the necessary paperwork and worked with client’s rapid rehousing team to get the debt paid off. After the eviction was paid off, the client was able to secure housing and moved into his apartment unit in the beginning of May 2024.
Phoenix Navigation Center Progress
The City of Phoenix will add 280 beds for individuals experiencing homelessness at the proposed new shelter being constructed at 11 S. 71st Ave. The City broke ground on the project the week of April 8th and prepped the ground for construction. Applications were accepted for the Community Advisory Committee which will include residents, local business, and other stakeholders. Selections will be made and applicants will be notified in the coming week. The first meeting is expected to be held early this summer.
Community Bridges, Inc. - Temporary Lodging at La Quinta Closure
CBI Temporary Lodging at La Quinta officially closed on April 30, 2024. This is the second of the temporary lodging sites that opened in 2023 to close. This particular site offered 140 beds. Over the six-month period of operation, CBI served 225 unique individuals. Other temporary lodging sites are slated for closure in the next few months and into the fall; however, the City is planning to add an additional 790 permanent new beds to offset the impact of closures.
Key Campus Encampment Efforts
OHS completed a total of 15 outreach and engagement efforts in the area surrounding the Key Campus between May 10 and Nov. 1, 2023, and closed streets to camping. Efforts included offering indoor shelter and services, assisting individuals with moving belongings as they were asked to relocate, and cleaning of streets by removing trash, waste, and other debris from each identified block. At the time the efforts began, nearly 700 individuals camped in the right of way in the area from 7th Avenue to 15th Avenue, Van Buren Street to Harrison Street, and it was by far the state’s largest encampment.
As a result of this effort, staff engaged over 700 people in the area, 590 of which accepted indoor shelter, treatment or alternative placement. Attachment A includes the number of individuals engaged and the number who accepted shelter on the day of each engagement effort. Attachment B depicts the percent distribution per shelter resulting from the efforts to date. Attachment C illustrates where the individuals who originally accepted indoor shelter, treatment or alternative placement during these efforts went as of a particular point in time. Updated data as of March 27, 2024, now reflects the SOS as a destination and shows that 61 percent remain in an indoor environment or at the SOS, while 23 percent have left shelter and are again in an unsheltered situation. Previous data as of Jan. 27, 2023, showed 65 percent remained in an indoor environment or the SOS, while 19 percent had left shelter and were again in an unsheltered situation.
Since Nov. 1, 2023, staff continue to enforce the court-ordered no-camping requirement in this area. In addition, proactive outreach and education continue to take place, and the area continues to be monitored and individuals encountered are engaged and offered shelter and the SOS as options.
Office of Homeless Solutions Staff Outreach Success Stories
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons engaged a 68-year-old male who had been staying at Civic Space Park for over a year. During that time, he had grown to be very comfortable staying the park. Over the course of two months, the Liaisons offered him access to shelter and the SOS. He had continuously declined assistance. However, after seeing some of his peers enter the SOS, he became interested. The Liaisons took him on a tour of the property, and he remained reluctant because he felt there was not enough personal space. With further encouragement from the Liaisons, he ultimately enjoyed the setting and believed he would do well in the program.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons engaged two gentleman who identified as a couple at a park. They were both wheelchair-bound and have experienced homelessness for several years. Previously, they’ve stayed in a camp in the area around the Key Campus as well as alleys in the central part of Phoenix. They went from alleys to parks, in the hopes of finding a safe environment to sleep as they had reported being robbed. The Liaisons offered them a place at the SOS and the two gentlemen were very interested in the opportunity. The Liaisons helped them pack and transported them and their belongings.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons met a 64-year-old female who had been staying in Civic Space Park for several days. With no family or friends in the City, she has been looking for a safe place to sleep. She receives Social Security benefits but became homeless after she could no longer afford her rent. She struggles with mental health and receives services from La Frontera. The Liaisons provided details to her about the SOS, and she was quickly interested in the program and agreed to be transported there.
Success Story
On April 16, 2024, OHS and the Police, Neighborhood Services, Public Works, and Street Transportation departments coordinated an outreach and enforcement clean-up event on 15th Avenue from Van Buren Street to Roosevelt Street, as well as University Park. Homeless Liaisons were able to place four individuals into the SOS, and one individual at Mercy House. All individuals placed into shelter were people previously engaged with during the enhanced engagement efforts around the Key Campus. The individual who went to Mercy House has been a staple in the encampment issues that the Oakland neighborhood has experienced; he was very grateful to be offered non-congregate shelter.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons received a phone call from a 31-year-old male who stated that he had just become homeless. He reported to have been staying on-and-off with his girlfriend in an apartment she obtained with a housing voucher. However, he was not on the lease, and he could not remain there. Fortunately, he is employed with a construction company and earns steady income. He reached out to the Liaisons to get help entering a shelter. The Liaisons inquired about his eligibility for Mercy House and were informed of a bed being available. The individual was working in Surprise. To ensure he successfully got to Mercy House, the Liaisons drove out to where he was and transported him to the program. Every morning, the individual is picked up by his employer at a location near the shelter. This convenient location will allow him to get to work punctually and further aid his ability to start saving his income.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons were outreaching unsheltered people at Civic Space Park. An individual, who the Liaisons had already placed in the SOS, approached them for additional support with a dental problem. He reported a cracked tooth and needed immediate help with aches and pains. Liaisons assisted by calling the individual's medical insurance to confirm coverage was still active and helped to locate the nearest provider that accepted the insurance, then transported the individual to the dentist. The individual had received the care needed and felt significantly better.
Success Story
A Park Ranger encountered a 42-year-old male in a park who was seeking services and passed along the business cards of Homeless Liaisons. He previously struggled with addiction and committed a string of crimes that made employment difficult to obtain. Now, he reported to be sober for four years and had secured employment at a fast-food restaurant. He’s held his job despite being unsheltered and has maintained a great sense of optimism. The Liaisons were able to secure placement for him at Mercy House and transported him and his belongings to the program. He also stated that his employer is currently trying to have him transferred to a location closer to the shelter and believes the transfer will occur soon. With the transfer, he will be able to start improving his sleep schedule, commute to work conveniently, and develop the discipline to save his income.
Upcoming Shelter Projects
Attachment D represents a summary of new shelter beds created with City of Phoenix investments including the 1,074 indoor shelter beds created in 2022 and 2023 to date, and the additional 790 indoor shelter beds and 125 affordable housing units that are in process and expected to be completed during 2024-25.
Existing Shelter Project Outcomes
Phoenix invested in four major projects in 2022 to create and provide 592 new indoor shelter beds, and seven projects to date in 2023 to provide 482 new shelter beds as summarized in Attachment D. The attached table (Attachment E) represents the bed utilization at the shelters including:
- Number of unduplicated clients served at the Washington Relief Center;
- Number of unduplicated clients served at Respiro;
- Number of unduplicated clients served at Rio Fresco;
- Number of unduplicated clients served through the I-HELP Program;
- Number of unduplicated clients served at SVdP temporary lodging;
- Number of unduplicated clients served at Mercy House temporary lodging;
- Number of unduplicated clients served at A New Leaf temporary lodging;
- Number of unduplicated clients served at Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) temporary lodging;
- Number of unduplicated clients served at CBI temporary lodging; and
- Average monthly usage at the CASS Single Adult Shelter.
Success Story
A 41-year-old client experiencing homelessness for over a decade, faced significant barriers due to mental health diagnoses and reluctance to disclose certain information. Through collaborative efforts between his CASS case manager and the Homeless ID Project, he obtained necessary documentation for housing. Initially planning for independent living and after counseling from the CASS behavioral health team, he considered an alternative: placement in a behavioral health residential facility. Open to this option, he expressed willingness to restart medication and prepare for independent living. With support from his La Frontera case manager, he transitioned to the behavioral health residential facility where he aims to acquire skills to achieve his goal of independent living, marking a significant step forward in his journey toward stability and self-sufficiency.
Success Story
A St. Joseph the Worker Workforce Villages graduate, initially seeking employment and stability after experiencing homelessness, demonstrated resilience and determination in transforming his life. Despite facing setbacks, including multiple attempts to pass the Commercial Driver License permit test, he remained committed to securing a job with growth potential. Through diligent study and perseverance, he ultimately succeeded, securing employment with First Transit as a bus driver. Over three months, he completed training, began full-time work, and saved while staying at CASS shelter. Advancing further, he joined the Workforce Villages Program, where he honed life skills and continued to save diligently. Within 90 days, he transitioned from emergency shelter to a graduate with over $18,000 in savings and secured a 2-bedroom apartment for himself and his son. This success story exemplifies the transformative impact of St. Joseph the Worker and the Workforce Villages Program, providing not just employment opportunities but also pathways to self-sufficiency and stable housing.
Success Story
A client struggling with medical, mental health, and substance abuse issues engaged in the Community Court program. Having missed a court date due to a hospitalization for a stroke, the client was found living in unfit conditions with a dog. The Community Court Case Manager secured shelter with A New Leaf, ensuring both the client and their pet had a safe place to stay. The client has consistently attended all court obligations and has been connected to substance abuse treatment. The Case Manager will continue to assist the client in addressing homelessness while residing in the shelter.
Success Story
A 43-year-old client, who lost his job and rental home due to contracting COVID-19, found refuge at the CASS single adult shelter. Working daily pay jobs for five months, he eventually landed a temp-to-hire position at Amazon. Concurrently, he worked with the CASS Supportive Services team to secure housing. They referred him to an apartment locating service, helping him to find a suitable residence despite a recent eviction on his record. With CASS's financial assistance for move-in fees, he successfully ended his homelessness and now has a stable home to accommodate visits with his children.
Success Story
A 54-year-old white female experiencing homelessness off and on since 2015 received a housing voucher in 2020 with her husband. Sadly, her husband overdosed six months later, and she and her daughter took over the voucher. Due to the daughter’s income, they lost the voucher in 2023. She was then forced to couch surf. While she was couch-surfing, she got a part time job at an ice-cream shop. She reached out to Phoenix I-HELP case management for help. Phoenix I-HELP connected her to a housing navigator through La Frontera and she was able to secure a two-bedroom apartment with her daughter. Her move in costs were secured through Lutheran Social Services and other non-profit organizations.
Success Story
A 42-year-old male struggling with alcoholism and homelessness was approached at La Pradera Park. Despite initial refusal of services, he was enrolled in CBI's Phoenix Outreach Program, beginning his journey out of homelessness. Assistance was provided in obtaining necessary documents for low-income housing and an application was submitted at Victory Place Apartments. Flex funding was secured to cover move-in costs, and the client signed a 12-month lease and received keys to his apartment. He expressed gratitude for the CBI Navigator's determination. Since moving in, he has reduced his drinking and plans to engage in a recovery program soon.
Success Story
A female client entered United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM) Halle shelter. Her five children were able to stay with their dad at his family’s home, but she was not allowed to stay there. She felt Halle would benefit her greatly in getting stable housing and employment. She entered shelter unemployed but found employment with a grocery store a day later. With the help of UMOM and her housing voucher, she successfully exited shelter and into her own place, just 15 days after entering Halle.
Success Story
During his participation in the St Joseph the Worker (SJW) Workforce Villages program, a client engaged in weekly meetings with a Housing Specialist and attended Financial Literacy courses to improve his budgeting skills. Through dedication and hard work, he managed to save over $4,500 while maintaining steady employment, even working overtime to bolster his savings. With his accumulated funds, he successfully secured his own apartment. SJW celebrates this achievement and expresses gratitude to the City of Phoenix for their partnership in supporting clients towards achieving self-sufficiency.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of Homeless Solutions.