Phoenix is centering housing—affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, and eviction protections—in a new planning framework designed to reduce the number of homeless people living on the streets of the city.
The Phoenix City Council recently approved a sweeping plan to address the city's growing numbers of homeless people living on the streets. The plan "calls for a regional distribution of homeless shelters and resources, more affordable housing options, enhanced neighborhood encampment cleanups and more mental health services," reports Jessica Boehm.
According to the most recent counts, the number of people living in Phoenix without homes has reached the record number tally of 7,400. "More than half of those are not living in a shelter and instead stay on the streets, in vehicles or in other areas not meant for habitation," according to Boehm.
The plan calls for goals and strategies on the themes of outreach and resources, mental health, workforce development, eviction protection, shelters, permanent supportive housing, affordable housing, encampment cleanups, and neighborhoods—highlighting the central role of housing to Phoenix's approach to the challenges of homelessness.
The entire "Strategies to Address Homelessness" plan is attached to the Phoenix City Council's meeting files for Tuesday, October 27.
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