Scottsdale City Council agreed with, and approved, recommendations made by the Human Services Commission for funding programs aimed at assisting community needs.
On June 30, City Council …
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Scottsdale City Council agreed with, and approved, recommendations made by the Human Services Commission for funding programs aimed at assisting community needs.
On June 30, City Council unanimously approved resolution No. 11833 on consent, setting in motion the Commission’s recommendations and allocating funding from the General Fund for fiscal year 2020-21.
The City of Scottsdale funds 501(c)3 nonprofit agencies to conduct human services programs within municipal bounds as well as regionally for residents.
The city budgets for these services in the General Fund and awards funding on an annual basis, a city staff report states.
General Funds are available for certain categories, including brokerage services, domestic violence shelter services, legal services for low-income residents, homeless shelter services, and services for seniors.
In total, six agencies will receive funding totaling $200,000.
The first is Catholic Charities Community Services, Inc --- My Sister’s Place: $40,000. The funding will provide seven victims of domestic violence shelter and supportive services.
Community Legal Services Inc. --- Strategic legal advocacy for low-income Scottsdale residents, will receive just under $30,000. This money will provide approximately 691 hours of legal assistance to 56 Scottsdale residents to assist in resolving civil legal problems.
Duet: Partners in Health and Aging will receive $25,000 for promoting Aging in Place in Scottsdale through transportation and in-home services.
Approximately 140 elderly and disabled Scottsdale residents will receive transportation and in-home services through this program, a city staff report stated.
Family Promise of Greater Phoenix will receive $40,000 for emergency shelter program transportation.
These funds will allow for 350 homeless families to be provided a total of 14,000 bed nights along with safe shelter, food, basic needs, clothing, childcare, transportation, case management, cash flow training, employment and housing assistance.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services will receive $25,075 for an older adults in-home program.
Through this program, 75 elderly and disabled residents will be provided a total of 843 hours of in-home assessment, case management, counseling, advocacy and referral to appropriate resources throughout Maricopa County.
The final organization to receive $40,000 is Scottsdale Community Partners’ Brown Bag Food Program, senior emergency rental assistance and Via Linda Senior Center congregate meals.
A total of 350 elderly and disabled residents will receive a once-a-month staples bag and two monthly supplemental bags, including perishable items such as fresh produce as well as canned goods and rental assistance.
The need within Scottsdale is illustrated by the most recent point-in-time homeless count.
The annual count is an annual street and shelter count to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County during a given point in time. The 2020 count was conducted on Jan. 28.
Results show more homeless people residing in Scottsdale than years prior:
2014: 39
2015: 0
2016: 67
2017: 50
2018: 67
2019: 76
2020: 102
In total, Maricopa County had 3,767 homeless people counted that night --- also a high compared to recent years.
The funding process began last fall following a request of proposals and public hearing.
An informal orientation for prospective applicants was held on Sept. 11, 2019. Interested agencies submitted their applications to the Community Assistance Office on or prior to Oct. 25, 2019.
In February 12 agencies presented their programs to the Human Services Commission at a public meeting, and six were selected.
Melissa Rosequist Managing Editor | East Valley @mrosequist_
I first started my journalism portfolio at the age of 15 while in high school before going on to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Being in the journalism field is the only professional avenue I was ever interested in, and have worked hard covering topics from school boards to hard news while working for the Independent, where I have been awarded for my reporting.
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