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Tempe accelerates response to homelessness with new tools

Posted 8/5/22

The city of Tempe is pioneering an innovative approach to homelessness that prioritizes safety and public health, connects people with housing options and services faster, gives residents new tools to help, and addresses encampments more quickly, according to a news release from the city. 

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Community

Tempe accelerates response to homelessness with new tools

Posted

The city of Tempe is pioneering an innovative approach to homelessness that prioritizes safety and public health, connects people with housing options and services faster, gives residents new tools to help, and addresses encampments more quickly, according to a news release from the city. 

In the past two years, Tempe has invested heavily in services and housing. Now, the city is sharing the new tools it’s developed. The community is invited to use these tools to help those experiencing homelessness and to track Tempe’s progress:

  • A dedicated phone number – “The CARE & HOPE Line” – is operating 24/7. Anyone can call to let the city know about a person who needs help or may be experiencing homelessness. It’s 480-350-8004. Or you can email HOPE@tempe.gov.
  • An online tool to directly report encampments. 
  • A public dashboard with data for our homeless outreach and encampment efforts. Find it at homeless-solutions.tempe.gov.

“Tempe is a leader among cities in establishing a comprehensive response to homelessness. The call now is to leverage innovation to be even more effective,” said Mayor Corey Woods. “Today, cities across the country are seeing more homelessness. Tempe is leading again by adding new tools and data critical to the strategies that promote the continued health, safety and quality of life of our entire community.”

“Homelessness is an incredibly complex issue. We are continually evaluating results and pivoting strategies to meet needs,” Woods said.

Tempe is phasing in new strategies to enhance its homeless response, with the first effort starting Aug. 4.

“This is social innovation. Involving our community nonprofits, residents, businesses and partnering with Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative are key strategies for us,” said Chief Deputy City Manager Rosa Inchausti, who was appointed in mid-June to drive these new strategies. “With the expertise of our staff and partners, we are committed to impact homelessness on a local level and be a model for our nation.”

The city’s new efforts include four distinct but layered strategies. 

One number to call

Residents can now call The CARE & HOPE Line at 480-350-8004, to let the city know 24/7 about someone who needs help. For general concerns that do not involve a person in crisis, residents can email HOPE@tempe.gov. Callers to Tempe 311 after hours will be directed to 480-350-8004 to share concerns.

Encampment reporting tool

City staff members have been using an online form to create data snapshots of encampments using information such as number of people, location, pets present and possible hazards. Now, the reporting form can be used by community members when they see encampments. This helps the city address safety and public health concerns faster. Find the form here.

The form is available on the Tempe 311 app or by visiting tempe.gov/311. Residents can also call 311 during business hours at 480-350-4311 if they need help completing the form with a customer relations specialist.  

After an encampment is reported, the HOPE team visits the people at the encampment, offering resources and assessing needs. The operations team prioritizes addressing encampments based on hazards to safety and public health, location and size.

Encampment response

Tempe is enhancing how we address encampments citywide at parks, vacant lots and elsewhere. We are prioritizing safety and public health by connecting people who are unsheltered to housing options and services.

Alongside nonprofit partners, the city is activating a compassionate, public health-focused response to assisting homeless people living in the Salt River area near Tempe Town Lake. Remaining in these no-trespass areas is not an option due to safety and public health reasons, including flooding, fires and other hazards.

People will not be able to return to this area, so the operation will provide resources including housing options. Through the month of August, following weeks of outreach in July, Tempe and partners will operate a temporary “resource village” area near the river bottom for unsheltered people who are leaving the area. A variety of assistance will be offered so that people can live safely elsewhere. We are providing pet services and a storage option for personal belongings if needed. Since our outreach began in July, people have been accepting our help and are already relocating to safer housing options.

Then, between September and December, an environmentally sensitive effort to prune vegetation and remove debris will occur, in order to return the river bottom to a riparian area.

Homeless solutions dashboard

Residents can now view a new homeless solutions dashboard showing the city’s work engaging with individuals experiencing homelessness and addressing encampments. The dashboard shows: up-to-date information about reported encampments; our progress in addressing encampments; and data about our engagement with people. Find it at homeless-solutions.tempe.gov.

Read more about all these new efforts at tempe.gov/HomelessResponse. Sign up to receive news about human services, housing and homelessness here.