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 in November 2023. 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
Between November 1, 2023, and November 19, 2024, the SOS has served a total of 1,277 individuals, of which 248 are still staying at the site. There have been 1,026 individuals that have exited the SOS, of which 31 percent have had a positive exit which may include moving to an emergency shelter, reuniting with family, and 27 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.
Additionally, OHS has partnered with ARIZONA@WORK, SVdP and St. Joseph the Worker to provide workforce development services. These workforce providers meet with individuals seeking employment opportunities and provide assistance with resume building, job readiness, clothing and referrals to employers with vacant positions. To date, 116 referrals have been made and 28 individuals have obtained employment. Many supplemental services have also been offered on-site to guests such as Valley Dogs Rescue, who provides preventive care and vaccinations for pets, and Street Medicine Phoenix, who provide basic medical and first aid.
SOS Success Story
After enduring months of homelessness, a 69-year-old male client has made remarkable progress toward stability. Previously living out of his car, he faced challenges in finding a safe place to stay. With determination and support, he secured a spot at the SOS, providing him with much-needed security and comfort. In addition to shelter, he obtained a lifeline phone to stay connected with essential services and his housing team. Recognizing the importance of healthcare, he has scheduled appointments at a clinic for hearing aids and a wellness check with Circle of the City. These steps represent crucial milestones in his journey toward better health and permanent housing. His story highlights the resilience of individuals and the positive impact of community support in helping them rebuild their lives.
Community Court
Community Court has served 251 participants this year from January through October. Of these, 32 participants have graduated from the program with achievements including: obtaining vital documents, entering shelter, addressing their physical and mental health, and gaining employment. The collaboration of the Prosecutor’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, and OHS, along with CBI, continues to create individualized plans to assist individuals in addressing their homelessness and help participants achieve their goals.
Community Court Success Stories
A 39-year-old male participating in the Phoenix Community Court program with CBI has made significant progress, completing 45 days of treatment with the support of his case manager. After finishing treatment, he expressed concern about returning to a family that uses substances. In response, the case manager collaborated with leadership to get him connected to sober living and assist with payment. The client was grateful for the support and is currently seeking employment to eventually cover his own living expenses. He is proud of his achievements and appreciates the assistance from the Phoenix Community Court program.
A 52-year-old male participated in the Phoenix Community Court program with CBI for seven months and successfully graduated. During his time in the program, he received help obtaining personal documents and was connected to shelter services through Native American Connections. At graduation, he was awaiting housing with a Permanent Supportive Housing voucher and had an upcoming move-in date. The client expressed happiness with his progress and thanked his case manager for all the assistance provided.
Office of Homeless Solutions Staff Outreach Success Stories
Success Story
A Homeless Liaison engaged a male at a park who had been unhoused off and on for the past 10 years and had been reluctant to accept services. He was given information about the SOS and agreed to assistance as he has been struggling with substance abuse and wanted to begin the road to recovery. The Liaison transported him to the SOS to begin intake.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons engaged a female at a park who reported experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence within her previous living situation. Health issues and some mobility limitations make it extremely difficult for her to move long distances. Although she has been sober for a year, she struggled to maintain her sobriety due to her homelessness. She stated she was hoping someone would notice her, so when Liaisons encountered her, she cried for joy when services were offered and eagerly accepted. Liaisons transported her and her belongings to the SOS where she can now receive medical attention and a safe place to sleep.
Success Story
A Homeless Liaison engaged a male and female at a park who had been staying there for the past five months and experiencing homelessness for the last two years. Both had been sober for almost a week. With much coordination and effort between the Liaison and the couple, they were transported to the SOS. The couple felt a tremendous amount of anxiety about their upcoming move, but the Liaison patiently listened to their concerns and encouraged them to move forward, leading to the successful placement at the SOS. Upon entering the SOS, the couple and their dog were welcomed with smiles and greetings from staff and other participants, which helped with their nervousness. With sighs of relief, the couple and their dog are now able get some much-needed rest and access the services that they need to continue on their path out of homelessness.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons met two individuals, identifying as a couple, who were staying at a bus stop and wanted to get help as soon as possible. The male had been unsheltered in the area for about nine months and the female for only a few days. The Liaisons encouraged them to downsize their belongings and consider entering a program for more resources. They were excited about the possibility of the SOS, so Liaisons secured a spot for them and transported them.
Success Story
A Homeless Liaison received a call from a 61-year-old male who was seeking services and staying at a QT near his employer. He is a truck driver and has been employed with the same company for 21 years. He reported suffering from edema, high blood pressure, neuropathy, major depression, and anxiety disorder. He was no longer able to afford his rent and was forced to live on the streets. It took several weeks for a shelter bed to become available, but because the individual and Liaison stayed in contact, he was successfully placed in Mercy House. He has a working vehicle and can commute to work. He will be able to keep his employment, address his medical and mental health, and begin to save his income.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons met a male and female with an encampment on a sidewalk who reported being on the streets for only a short time. Liaisons described the SOS and all the assistance they could receive on site. They were quick to agree and happy to be transported along with their belongings to SOS.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons, in collaboration with Park Rangers, engaged an elderly couple in their 60's who had been experiencing homelessness for over six years. Originally from California, the couple work as traffic controllers and certified flaggers and have been employed in day labor for more than five years. This work has allowed them to secure temporary lodging, often staying in hotels for up to a month at a time. The couple previously stayed with their daughter, but after she relocated to Utah, they have been living on the streets and in local parks. During their encounter with Park Rangers and liaisons, the couple was informed about the SOS program. A liaison then assisted them by providing transportation to the designated space.
Success Story
A Homeless Liaison was informed of an encampment in front of a local business. A 49-year-old female was engaged and offered access to shelter. She acknowledged a history of mental health and substance use. She was originally from out of state, so she did not have a strong support system here. Although she said she had found her ways to survive on the street, she was mentally exhausted and hoping to receive help immediately. The Liaison was able to secure a bed for her at the SOS, and she was transported to the program.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons, along with Park Rangers, engaged an elderly couple at Civic Space Park. The couple reported being homeless for over two years. During their homelessness, they would rent hotels with the income the female received from her tribal funds. The male reported no income due to having to keep close to his girlfriend because of her medical condition. The team described the SOS, and the couple seemed very interested. Both were accepted and transported by Liaisons.
Success Story
Homeless Liaisons encountered a 27-year-old male and 21-year-old female at a local park who reported being unsheltered because they lost employment four months ago and could no longer pay rent. For three weeks, they had been going from hotel to hotel. They were in the park for several weeks and were eager to receive resources. The Liaison informed them of the SOS and the services available to them. They expressed interest, so the Liaison secured spots for them and transported them to the SOS.
Shelter Projects
Attachment A represents a summary of new shelter beds created with City of Phoenix investments, including the 592 indoor shelter beds created in 2022 and 482 temporary shelter beds in 2023, and the additional 380 indoor shelter beds in 2024 and 430 additional beds that are in process and expected to be completed during 2024-25. All but 110 of the temporary shelter beds created in 2023 have closed.
Existing Shelter Project Outcomes
Phoenix invested in four major projects in 2022 to create and provide 592 new indoor shelter beds and seven projects in 2023 to provide 482 new temporary shelter beds, and three projects in 2024 to provide 380 indoor shelter beds as summarized in Attachment A. Attachment B 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 at Mercy House temporary lodging.
- Number of unduplicated clients served at Phoenix Navigation Center.
- Number of unduplicated clients served at North Mountain Healing Center.
- Average monthly usage at the Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) Single Adult Shelter.
Below are success stories submitted in the last month by funded partners.
Success Story
A female client and her teenage son found themselves living in her car for the last six months. At the time, she was an Uber driver to make money but was barely making enough money to cover daily gas and food. Her son was not attending school due to their instability. Upon entering the United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM) family shelter, she set goals to establish a savings and work a regular set schedule that allowed her to return to the shelter where she could sleep in a bed and not her car. Her son has a learning disability, and with assistance from UMOM staff, they were able to enroll him in a school that met his needs. He quickly made friends and was able to excel in his classes. Having established her goals and remaining focused during her time at the shelter, she was able to move into a one-bedroom apartment where she and her son are now happily living. They were able to cover move-in costs with assistance from UMOM, helping to stretch their savings further.
Success Story
A recent graduate of St. Joseph the Worker’s Workforce Villages Program faced significant challenges after losing her husband and struggling with unstable housing. This led to a cycle of renting rooms, which hindered her financial stability. Determined to change her situation, she attended a career fair where she secured a job at a semiconductor company and learned about the Workforce Villages Program. Recognizing her urgent need for housing, she was quickly accepted into the program. While working full-time, she focused on saving money, ultimately amassing over $8,000. The achievement enabled her to secure a one-bedroom apartment, a crucial step toward self-sufficiency. She also took courses in Meal Budgeting and Planning and Personal Finance 101, which equipped her with essential budgeting skills. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed gratitude for the support from her Housing Specialist, noting that the program provided vital assistance during difficult economic times. Today, she is thriving in her own apartment, a goal that seemed unattainable just months earlier. She thanked the City of Phoenix for their partnership in making her success possible.
Success Story
A client successfully transitioned into housing at Sunset Sound Studio Apartments with the support of CBI services. The client was prepared for housing at Washington Relief Center, where a housing plan was developed, including getting client ready with necessary documentation. Once that was completed, the focus shifted to securing employment, and staff assisted the client in finding a job. After gaining employment, the next challenge was apartment searching. Although he faced several rejections due to financial requirements, the client persisted and eventually found an apartment. A pregnant significant other, who was also on the caseload, was housed alongside the client, and they have been successful in their new living situation. This achievement was made possible through the collaboration of multiple agencies, including SVdP and Nehemiah, along with the consistent support of the team. The caseworker’s approach was to inspire hope and remind the client that success was achievable, which ultimately helped the client overcome challenges and end his homelessness.
Success Story
During his time at Mercy House, a client completed three months of substance abuse classes at Terros and successfully finished his probation. Although he faced challenges finding employment due to his background and unreliable transportation, he remained determined. He attended a job fair and secured a position detailing cars at a local dealership. In addition to his job search, he worked on rebuilding his relationship with his family, which he saw as essential for his success. The same week he found employment, he discussed his progress with his sister, who offered him a long-term place to stay with her family. Grateful for this opportunity, the client exited the motel emergency shelter program, ready to move forward with a new job and the support of his family.
Success Story
A female client faced significant health challenges that limited her ability to work, making it difficult to afford housing. However, with support from UMOM housing assistance and access to essential services like healthcare and food, her family was able to achieve stability. After receiving encouragement and guidance from her case manager, she expressed her gratitude for the support that helped her persevere through tough times. Today, she and her family are living in their own home after successfully transitioning out of shelter, marking a significant improvement in their quality of life.
Success Story
A client had been struggling with homelessness for three years, facing mental health disorders, physical disabilities, and no income. Living on the streets, he felt hopeless until he was introduced to CBI through the New Faces Day Center. CBI connected him to resources, and he entered The Bridge Shelter, where he was able to stabilize. With support, he applied for and was approved for Supplemental Stability Income and Social Security Disability Insurance, gaining financial security. Today, he is housed at an apartment, no longer homeless, and able to meet his basic needs. His story highlights the power of support and perseverance in rebuilding a stable life.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of Homeless Solutions.