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I'll start with the stats:
This morning the Keys to Change outreach team counted 113 unsheltered people in the neighborhood immediately surrounding Key Campus and 403 unsheltered people in an expanded 5-ish mile radius around the Campus. That's 516 unsheltered people.
The four shelter spaces on the Campus continue to remain full at a total of approximately 900 people nightly. Spaces are full. Two of these spaces are "overflow" shelter that have been operating for five years, since the onset of the pandemic. Funding is running out from our governmental partners, and these two spaces that shelter nearly 280 people per night are phasing down. By June 1 they will be closed.
The rate of people entering homelessness is 19 households for every 10 that exit to housing. More people lose their housing and fall into homelessness than are able to find housing and end their homelessness every month. There is a housing shortage. There is an affordability challenge. This is a crisis.
Phoenix Winter: high temperatures the last three days have been 74 degrees, 82 degrees, and 86 degrees. We still prepare for overnight lows in the 40s. With low humidity, 40 is cold. Sleeping outdoors is more than chilly. People with homes aren't complaining, as this is the season for lower electricity bills.
Facebook reminds me that four years ago today I wrote a blog. And it was the day after the City Council vote on the request to add shelter beds. That was gut wrenching as permission was granted for most of the request, however not all of it. And the set of stipulations that came along with the shelter bed capacity is still daunting. In fact, tonight was one of our regular, stipulated Community Outreach meetings. We have come a long way in four years, with shelter beds added at the CASS Single Adult Shelter on Campus to a total of 600 beds. And the addition of 95 beds in the Respiro shelter built in a Sprung Structure that Keys to Change operates on the Campus. Respiro opened in March of 2022, nearly three years ago.
Progress, yes. Is it enough?
No.
Current events include the need to have a plan for ICE raids in shelters and financial planning should the Federal government pause/stop/cancel funding to housing and homeless services programs...read more here...
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