Maricopa County commits $28M in federal funds to address homelessness
Dec 8, 2021, 8:00 PM
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.
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“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.
