Title
Shelter and Heat Relief Update
Description
This report provides the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee an update on the Office of Homeless Solutions and Office of Heat Response and Mitigation’s shelter and heat relief projects to address unsheltered homelessness in 2023.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) manages and implements programs and projects to address homelessness. The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation helps to design, coordinate, implement and evaluate programs that protect people from dangerous heat and provide long-term cooling and thermal comfort. Through an array of contracts and initiatives, both offices are working with the community, service partners and our regional partners to engage and connect individuals and families with services.
Emergency Shelter Available this Summer
Below is a summary of emergency shelters available to or prioritizing single adults that are unsheltered around the Human Services Campus (HSC) available this summer:
- Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)- Single Adult Shelter- 600 shelter beds.
- HSC- Respiro Sprung Structure- 100 shelter beds.
- HSC Weather Relief Shelters- 275 mats on floor.
- Washington Relief Shelter- 200 new shelter beds.
- Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI)- Rio Fresco Healing Center- 117 hotel rooms.
- Maricopa County Bridge Housing Hotels- 283 hotel rooms.
OHS is working with multiple partners to create additional shelter beds to meet the growing need of safe, indoor places for people to sleep. Below is a summary of upcoming capital investments related to homeless shelters that will result in an additional 462 shelter units in 2023:
- Lutheran Social Services- I-HELP- 12 new shelter beds.
- Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)- The Haven- 170 new shelter units.
- Sprung Structure and Non-Congregate Shelter Demonstration- 200 congregate beds, 80 non-congregate beds.
Heat Relief for People Experiencing Homelessness
The City of Phoenix remains committed to supporting annual heat relief activities for individuals experiencing homelessness. This commitment includes ensuring people experiencing homelessness have access to adequate hydration and cooling in and around the HSC.
During summer 2023, OHS will partner with the HSC to set up a large on-campus heat relief tent with shade and cooling. During the summer heat, chilled water will be available at multiple locations around the campus and at 9th Avenue of Jackson (next to the Respiro shelter).
The City was awarded $1,015,000 by Maricopa County to provide daytime Heat Relief. OHS seeks to undertake two projects with this funding in an effort to serve approximately 100-200 individuals per day. The City is working to lease a vacant building, or adequate portion of a building in downtown Phoenix, and contract with a provider for the Heat Respite services. The selected building will have air-conditioning, adequate restrooms and access to voluntary wrap around services, such as housing assessments, case management and workforce opportunities. In addition, OHS will work with a nonprofit service provider to offer daytime heat respite and wrap around services at the Sunnyslope Family Services Center.
Summer 2023 Heat Response Plan
The Office of Heat Response and Mitigation is coordinating an annual update to the City of Phoenix Heat Response Plan. The updated Plan will be submitted as a General Information Packet item to be published the week of April 17. The Plan describes more than two dozen initiatives operated by City departments that are intended to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths and other adverse health and quality of life impacts associated with summer heat.
Beyond the initiatives described above focused on people experiencing homelessness, key components of the Heat Response Plan include:
- Direct outreach to vulnerable residents through the We’re Cool and Cool Callers initiatives. The We’re Cool program aims to distribute heat relief supplies, share information about community cooling resources and connect residents to critical social services that can reduce heat vulnerability. The Cool Callers program supports housed residents who face challenges with energy insecurity and indoor overheating.
- Operation of Cooling Centers and Hydration Stations by the Parks and Recreation, Library and Human Services departments.
- Enforcement of the City Cooling Ordinance by the Neighborhood Services Department.
- Widespread distribution of heat safety messages to the general public and to targeted audiences including outdoor workers, transit system users, airport visitors and children.
- Weekly reporting of heat-health impacts and program metrics to City leadership and external partners.
- Collaboration on regional heat response and mitigation initiatives through the Arizona Heat Resilience Work Group.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of Homeless Solutions and the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.