INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
Tempe’s homeless numbers have decreased twice in the last 11 months, according to a city release.
The city’s Point-in-Time numbers have come down to 355 people experiencing homelessness from 515 over that period.
City officials said Tempe has conducted each of its recent counts in the same manner for consistency and reliability.
On June 15, with the support of 60 staff and volunteers, the city counted 355 unsheltered people throughout the city. That compares with 406 in January 2023 and 515 in August 2022, the release stated.
Maricopa County conducts a Point-in-Time count each January, a one-day snapshot of homelessness in the region. Tempe is a part of that annual count.
“Tempe takes the added step of holding a summer count to better understand the community’s needs and guide homeless solutions strategies,” city officials said in the release.
Tempe has undertaken several steps to address homelessness in the city, including Tempe Works, which connects unsheltered people with employment, housing and other resources.