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Title:
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Consideration of a Citizen Petition Submitted by Ms. Clarissa Peterson - Citywide
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Title
Consideration of a Citizen Petition Submitted by Ms. Clarissa Peterson - Citywide
Description
This report provides the City Council with information in response to a citizen petition made by Clarissa Peterson at the August 26, 2026, Formal City Council meeting regarding recommendations for the homeless services system, Attachment A.
Summary
The petitioner requests City Council to form a working group or commission an external study to evaluate and recommend improvements to the shelter system; hire professional staff dedicated to managing, coordinating, and enhancing shelter operations; offer more programs within shelter facilities to support residents; establish a working group on safety concerns; and consult with an expert on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance to review shelter facilities and ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Options for Council Action:
Accept the petition.
Deny the petition.
Elect to conduct a study of the shelter system.
Staff recommends denying the petition.
The Maricopa Continuum of Care (CoC) is the regional body that governs the regional homeless services system, not the City of Phoenix. The CoC publishes system-level data, including a monthly Homelessness Trends Report that provides metrics in the population experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. Additionally, the CoC tracks System Performance Measures for the entire region, including the City of Phoenix, as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which monitor our homeless service system’s year-over-year effectiveness. The CoC undertakes regional shelter system reviews, such as commissioning a Gaps Analysis report in December of 2025. This report examined the regional homeless services system, analyzing quantitative inflow and outflow data as well as qualitative data gathered from listening sessions and experiences of people accessing shelter services. These reports on the homeless services system are accessible on the CoC’s website at maricopacoc.org.
The Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS), by contrast, focuses on the City of Phoenix, not the regional shelter system. OHS owns three shelters and provides operational funding to six additional shelters. According to the Maricopa CoC 2026 Point in Time count data, there were 56 unique shelter or transitional housing programs operating within the City of Phoenix in January 2026. The three City-owned sites represent only five percent of the shelter projects and transitional housing sites within the City of Phoenix.
OHS contracts the daily operations of its three City-owned shelters to three nonprofit homeless service providers: St. Vincent de Paul, Community Bridges Inc. and Keys to Change. OHS provides oversight and management of the three City-owned shelters and the nonprofit providers hire and train staff. Contracted shelter operators are required to maintain qualified staff, including case managers and support staff, and follow trauma-informed care standards. Contracts outline staff training/competencies required for shelter staff associated with the OHS-owned sites. OHS monitors operators regularly and addresses reports of poor staff conduct directly with provider leadership. In addition, OHS has qualified and dedicated staff who are continuously evaluating shelter operations and services and looking for opportunities to improve or increase services. OHS does not have the authority to conduct a system-wide review of shelter operations and programs, as this falls under the CoC’s purview.
When safety concerns arise at City-owned shelters, OHS receives incident reports from contracted service providers and addresses them directly with the operator, making adjustments in operations and service delivery as necessary to minimize health and safety risks. Security contractors are tasked with keeping the sites safe for both residents and staff. OHS does not have the authority to conduct a safety review or mandate safety practices for the entire regional shelter system.
OHS also currently ensures ADA compliance at the three City-owned facilities. The facilities were constructed utilizing guidance and project management from professional architects and engineering staff within the City’s Office of the Engineer. These professionals utilized the City’s building standards and national accessibility guidelines during project design and construction. When needed, OHS and the Office of the Engineer consult with the Equal Opportunity Department regarding accessibility. An accessibility review of the regional shelter system is beyond OHS’s authority.
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of Homeless Solutions.