Avondale opens transitional homes to help homeless families find permanent housing

Avondale has opened six homes to help homeless families move into permanent housing, the city announced Tuesday.

Avondale officials held a ribbon-cutting for Family Bridge Homes, located near the Avondale Resource Center. Each of the two-bedroom homes has a private bathroom and a full kitchen.

The temporary housing gives families experiencing homelessness a stable place to live while case managers connect them with services to help them overcome barriers to permanent housing, according to the city.

“Our hope is that these homes provide more than a place to stay,” Avondale Mayor Mike Pineda said in a statement. “They provide stability, dignity and a pathway toward a brighter future.”

How Avondale is funding and running its homeless family housing

The project cost about $3 million. Maricopa County contributed $1.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, and Avondale covered the rest from the city’s general fund.

Mesa-based homeless services nonprofit A New Leaf will run the program and offer ongoing support to families. The city’s general fund and federal pandemic-relief housing dollars, known as HOME-ARP funds, will pay for operations.

How homeless families in Avondale can get help

A New Leaf determines eligibility. Individuals and families experiencing homelessness can be referred to the organization for an intake assessment, but placement in the homes is not guaranteed, the city said.

Avondale residents seeking housing or homeless services can contact the Arizona Complete Health Avondale Resource Center at 623-333-2703 or SONAR@AvondaleAZ.gov.

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