| City of Phoenix Takes Targeted Approach to Address City’s Largest Encampment | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/homeless-solutions/2731 | Homeless Solutions | | 4/21/2023 5:30:00 PM | | https://youtu.be/3Tupgyr6Ls0 | City of Phoenix Takes Targeted Approach to Address City’s Largest Encampment | <div class="ExternalClass5E893A90CF6C43DA98031DE6BCDC9AA5"><html><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;font-size:10pt;" lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City of Phoenix is taking decisive action to address issue impacting those experiencing homelessness outside the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix.</span><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;font-size:10pt;" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> <br></span><br><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The multi-pronged strategy involves expediting plans already in place including enhanced cleaning, connecting unsheltered residents with needed resources and services, and increasing resources to meet the demand.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">"The area around the Human Services Campus (HSC) is one of our top priorities," said Rachel Milne, the Director of the City's </span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="http://www.phoenix.gov/solutions"><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Office of Homeless Solutions</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> (OHS). “Accelerating existing plans is a strategic move designed to meet the needs not only of those experiencing homelessness, but also the business owners impacted by the large increases in people camping in the area.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">This includes people like Lenyne Kinley who never expected to find herself homeless, sleeping in her car outside of the Human Services Campus with her three cats, Oscar, Lovie and Sofia. But when her rent jumped from $1,500 to $2,500 a month, and she got into an accident and couldn’t go back to work, she had nowhere else to go.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Lenyne called her car home for a month. She said “I refused to leave my car because a lot of my belongings were in there. And then I was worried about the cats because it was getting hotter, and I didn’t want them out there either.” </span><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none">She said living in the city’s largest encampment felt unsafe.</span><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> “Things were just complete chaos, no order there.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Outreach workers connected with Lenyne and secured her a bed at the Washington Relief Shelter. “You don’t have to deal with any of that here,” said Kinley Her first night at the shelter, she instantly felt something she hadn’t experienced in a month: safe. “I fell asleep immediately. And a lot of people being out on the street it’s difficult to do.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Lenyne is now working with a navigator at the shelter to find a permanent place to call home. She is just one of 900 people served at the Washington Relief Shelter since it opened as a partnership with St. Vincent de Paul, Community Bridges and Maricopa County one year ago. </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Providing services to individuals like Lenyne is central to the City’s plan to relocating those living in the area around the HSC, from 7th Avenue to 15th Avenue, Jefferson to the railroad tracks.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">“The City has accomplished much in the last year such as adding nearly 600 shelter beds and providing long-term storage for individual’s belongings, but we know it’s not enough and much more needs to be done,” said Milne. “That’s why we are taking immediate action to prioritize additional indoor shelter space as well as looking for safe outdoor spaces for these individuals to go.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>ACTION PLAN</strong></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City has an action plan to clean up the encampment which includes adding additional shelter space, enhanced cleaning and offering various alternative locations to</span><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"> residents once complete, leading with services to offer options to those relocating and unifying our efforts with regional partners.</span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>ADDITIONAL SHELTER SPACE</strong></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><ul role="list"><li role="listitem" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" aria-setsize="-1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="4" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext=""><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">An additional 800 shelter beds will be coming online before the end of next year.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li><li role="listitem" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" aria-setsize="-1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="4" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext=""><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City is also exploring creative solutions such as leasing hotels space to add additional rooms for individuals needing shelter.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li><li role="listitem" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" aria-setsize="-1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="4" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext=""><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City is working with other government partners to identify vacant land and/or buildings which could be used to support those experiencing homelessness.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li><li role="listitem" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="4" aria-setsize="-1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="4" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext=""><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The Office of Homeless Solutions is also exploring creating a safe, outdoor space with restrooms, 24/7 security, onsite services and shade for those who may not be ready to accept an indoor shelter option.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></li></ul></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>ENHANCED CLEANING</strong></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City resumed its services-driven enhanced cleaning schedule in December 2022. During the cleanings, staff focus on one block in the area, and work with our nonprofit partners to conduct outreach and offer services. “We will help individuals pack up their items and move them to a safe place while crews come in and cleans biohazards and anything else that needs to be cleaned up. While people are in that safe place we’re able to offer them shelter, treatment and we’re able to transport them right there to those services,” Milne said.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">This approach has proven successful; in the five enhanced cleanings since December, more than 2/3 (67%) of people have accepted services and were transported immediately to an indoor location.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Moving forward, the cleanings will be conducted more frequently and after each cleaning is complete, individuals will no longer be allowed to return to camping on the individual block which has just been cleaned. Staff will continue to lead with services and education, alerting those who are staying in the area to the changes that are coming with communication such as flyers and signage announcing those dates. Those who refuse services will need to find alternative accommodations as they will not be allowed to camp in the right of way.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>LEADING WITH SERVICES</strong></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">“No one person is alike. We need to have diverse options so that people have a choice in where they go. We are committed to working with various partners to create options and reduce as many barriers as possible,” said Milne.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City provides shelters that accept pets, offer spaces where couples can remain together, and have safe storage options so that people don’t have to worry about leaving behind any of their belongings when entering shelter.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>REGIONAL APPROACH</strong></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Long-term solutions to cleaning up the encampment require a coordinated effort among State and local municipalities, faith-based groups and non-profit partners.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">”The City recognizes that this is a big task. There are roughly 900 people camping outside the HSC every night. We’ve had offers of assistance from our nonprofit partners, philanthropic groups State of Arizona, Maricopa County, other municipalities. The outpouring of support has been tremendous,” said Milne.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City is already working to coalesce these different agencies in our unified mission to support the needs of the unsheltered. Securing this alignment will facilitate stronger deployment of all available resources to individuals and help ensure small businesses are protected. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The City of Phoenix has already committed $140 million dollars to homeless solutions since July 2021, with a significant portion of that funding going toward funding ongoing projects that will stretch into at least 2024.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>DASHBOARD</strong></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">You can track work to address homelessness funded by the City on a newly launched </span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.phoenixopendata.com/showcase/ohs"><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Office of Homeless Solutions data dashboard</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">. This site highlights the work of projects and services provided by City of Phoenix partners to address homelessness. The dashboard is a tool to help increase transparency and allow the public to track outcomes of people who were assisted by programs that receive funding from the City of Phoenix. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></div><div><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"><br></span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">The OHS dashboard includes information on the number of individuals and families served by our contracted partners, and the outcomes of the service provided in three areas: Emergency Shelter, Street Outreach and Rapid Re-Housing. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">“Transparency is a core value of our Office,” said Milne. “We recognize the urgent need to address homelessness in our community and the City of Phoenix is investing more resources than ever before toward those efforts. We want the community to be able to see the results of our investments and the number of people we are helping connect with the right resources to end their homelessness.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><strong>HOW TO HELP</strong></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}"> </span><span style="background-color:window;color:windowtext;font-size:10pt;"> </span></div><div><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Residents who would like to help individuals experiencing homelessness, or volunteer with organizations who provide vital resources to those who are unsheltered can connect to these organizations through the </span><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="http://www.givesmartaz.org/"><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Healthy Giving Council</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">. </span></div></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/homeless-solutions | Video | | homeless-solutions | | Homeless Solutions | | | | #PHXSolutions | Homelessness, Homeless Solutions, Office of Homeless Solutions, Shelter | Kristin Couturier | 602-568-8126 | 602-534-5627 | | | kristin.couturier@phoenix.gov | | | | | | | | | cityofphoenixaz | |
