Title
Office of Homeless Solutions - Healthy Giving Opportunities - Citywide
Description
This report provides an overview and update on the Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) Healthy Giving Opportunities.
Report
Summary
The City Council approved the Office of Homeless Solutions healthy giving initiative in the 2026 Strategies to Address Homelessness Plan. As part of the initiative the City will continue to enhance and promote Healthy Giving to create opportunities for individuals and volunteers to give their time and resources in ways that minimize any inadvertent negative consequences in the community. The Office of Homeless Solutions offers Healthy Giving opportunities that provide a coordinated donation pathway for individuals, businesses, faith-based organizations and other community groups seeking to support people utilizing city-owned shelter sites. Rather than unhealthier street-side drop-offs, we encourage individuals and groups to support Healthy Giving Strategies. These opportunities connect donors directly with shelters, ensuring items are distributed safely, responsibly and in a way that truly meets client needs.
Unhealthy giving in the context of homelessness refers to acts of help that, while well intentioned, can cause harm, worsen conditions or fail to address the root causes of homelessness. Giving fresh or perishable food without considering storage, preparation or shelf life can lead to waste, spoilage and even health hazards. Unhealthy giving often comes with unintended consequences: donated food and goods left unattended on the street can pose health risks, leftover trash accumulates in the area and food already prepared by shelter partner organizations can go to waste when clients also receive street donations.
To participate in Healthy Giving at City-owned shelter sites, donors are required to complete an application specifying the donation type, preferred shelter location and other relevant details. All on-site donors and volunteers must be adults age 18 or older. Eligible shelter sites currently include the Turquoise Navigation Center (TNC) (formerly the Phoenix Navigation Center) and the Safe Outdoor Space (SOS), with plans to expand eligible locations as the opportunities grow.
Food and beverage donations must be prepared in a commercial kitchen. Additionally, all snacks and beverages must be pre-packaged. Beverages must be provided in plastic bottles or aluminum cans, as glass is not permitted. To ensure donations can serve the full shelter population, a minimum of 250 units per item is required.
As of now, clothing and supply donations must be new and unused, used clothing is not accepted at shelter sites. However, a system to take in more types of clothing donations is currently being explored. Current areas of greatest ongoing need include socks and underwear, feminine hygiene products, pet food and seasonal needs (such as heat-relief items) shifting throughout the year.
Participation in Healthy Giving opportunities continues to see strong engagement from community partners. A local Phoenix law firm recently provided a full catered meal for clients at the SOS. Faith-based organizations remain among the most consistent contributors: Illuminate Church donates twice weekly (Mondays at TNC and Thursdays at SOS), as well as the third and fourth Saturdays of the month at SOS. Start with the Heart donates at SOS on the second Saturday of each month. Upon This Rock Church donates at SOS on the first Saturday of each month. These recurring donation days have become a meaningful point of connection for clients, who look forward to seeing familiar volunteers and building ongoing relationships through these opportunities.
Since January 2026, through these partners there have been over 70 volunteers and more than 1,500 served clients with food and drink donations. We have also received an estimated value of $8,000 in-kind donations to date.
As an extension of Healthy Giving opportunities for the holiday, OHS is developing “Healthy Giving Friendsgiving.” Every Thanksgiving, the area around the Key Campus (formerly Human Services Campus) sees a surge in on-the-street unhealthy giving. This has been addressed with a coordinated effort and street closures.
“Healthy Giving Friendsgiving,” is a community giving campaign that directs residents and community groups to give directly to local partner organizations. This effort builds directly towards Thanksgiving Day to hopefully decrease unhealthy giving and an onslaught of litter and debris around the Key Campus.
The campaign will include education for the community on what Healthy Giving is and why it matters, along with information on what partner organizations do and what they need to help individuals experiencing homelessness during the holiday season. We are hoping to have at least eight to 10 organizations participate. It will also share details on the Key Campus street closure, so residents understand why it happens and what to expect on Thanksgiving Day. To make it easy for the community to get involved ahead of time, the campaign will provide resources on how to give directly to partner organizations, including their specific needs, donation drop-off information and volunteer opportunities.
Information on OHS Healthy Giving Opportunities can be found on the OHS website: www.phoenix.gov/solutions. Additional opportunities can also be found on the Healthy Giving Council website: www.givesmartaz.org.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of Homeless Solutions.