Though the annual accounting of the Valley’s homeless people was stymied this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, local officials still are concerned about the growing problem and searching for new approaches to help the most vulnerable.
Sarah Kent, a human services planner for the Maricopa Association of Governments, explained the traditional on-the-streets outreach — conducted every year under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and in partnership with municipalities and first responders across the Valley — was canceled earlier this year because of the pandemic.
Despite the cancellation, Valley agencies have been able to assess the overall need, including data on the number of sheltered homeless individuals.
