Maricopa County commits $28M in federal funds to address homelessness

PHOENIX – The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday committed $28 million in federal COVID relief funds to address housing insecurity in metro Phoenix, including the addition of hundreds of shelter beds.

The board targeted $21 million for 352 new shelter beds, $4 million for rapid-rehousing services and $3 million to prevent the reoccurrence of homelessness.

The money will come out of the county’s $435 million allotment from the American Rescue Plan Act, which was passed in March by congressional Democrats and signed by President Joe Biden.

“With the number of unsheltered people in Maricopa County steadily increasing over the last five years, this board made it a priority to put federal dollars to work to make sure this group of people disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 have access to shelter and services that can help them get back on their feet,” Chairman Jack Sellers, one of four Republicans on the five-member board, said in a press release.

“Our goal is to distribute this money in a way that eases the burden of individuals and families while strengthening this important type of infrastructure.”

The county will collaborate with four nonprofit groups on the new shelter space, with $7,558,372 going to Community Bridges for 100 beds, $6 million to Tempe Community Action Agency for 80 beds, $6 million to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul for 100 beds, and $1,441,628 to UMOM for 72 beds.

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