The Arizona Lottery and Tempe Community Action Agency highlighted a partnership recently at an emergency shelter that provides a place to sleep and more for 40 adults.

The lottery has committed $50,000 to TCAA to support those experiencing homelessness with temporary lodging, hot meals, employment assistance, access to health care and other services, including showers and laundry options in TCAA trailers.

The partnership supports the agency’s Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program, which is a collaboration between TCAA and a network of more than a dozen faith organizations. 

TCAA plans to use the lottery’s support to expand services to help address the mental health needs of I-HELP participants and improve their overall well-being.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Tempe Community Action Agency to support the I-HELP program to better serve the needs of area adults experiencing homelessness," said Chris Rogers, Arizona Lottery deputy director of marketing and products.

"We recognize the demand for shelter has increased sharply in recent years, and the I-HELP program provides essential services to those in need while improving their quality of life in meaningful ways."

According to a release, TCAA conducts an assessment and “identifies and addresses with participants their unique barriers to finding and keeping permanent housing.”

Since the I-HELP model was launched in 2006, more than 8,000 adults have benefited, the release stated.

“We are deeply grateful to the Arizona Lottery for its support to this vital emergency shelter resource in Tempe,” Deborah Arteaga, TCAA CEO, said. “I-HELP is more than a safe place to sleep; it's access to vital supports such as health care  and employment, that can ultimately shorten the duration of homelessness and hasten the return to a permanent home."

For more: www.arizonalottery.com/givesback,  www.tempeaction.org. 

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.