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Staff Update
May 3, 2023
March 5, 2026
Candace Cannistraro, Deputy City Manager
Dominique Sterlin, Assistant Police Chief
Lindsey Balinkie, Deputy Director Community Services
Jussane Goodman, Human Services Administrator
Addressing Homelessness for
Community Health
and Safety
1
Maricopa County Homelessness Trends Report*
Homelessness Trends - Report Maricopa County Regional
*Most current report available CY 2024
2
There is a significant number of new people entering homelessness each month. In 2024, an average of 962 new households per
month experienced homelessness for the first time. In 2025, shelters and bridge housing programs continue to have long waitlists
and cannot meet the demand.
Breakdown of people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County in December 2024.
Other Impacts & Trends in Mesa
205
RRH/PSH
Vouchers
2026 federal
cuts anticipated
to remove
vouchers
205
households
at-risk of
homelessness
4,898*
Shelter Beds
in Maricopa
County
296* Mesa
Shelter Beds
74 Shelter
Beds Lost in
Mesa in 2024-
2025
Other Anticipated Housing
Voucher Loss
Homeless
Shelter Beds
*Single adult & family beds
County Shelter Beds Source: COC HIC
Emergency Housing
Voucher Cuts
76 Emergency
Housing
Vouchers
Ending in
2026
76
households
at-risk of
homelessness
Mesa Housing Authority
Reductions to COC HUD Rapid Rehousing
and Permanent Supportive Housing
3
Regional Government Efforts
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
Regional Homeless
Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
Shelter
Support Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
Shelter
Regional
Homeless Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
Community
Intervention Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
Shelter
Community Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
158 City-owned Shelter Beds
Community Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
Regional Homeless
Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
53 Rented Shelter Beds
Support Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
160 City-owned
Shelter beds
Regional
Homeless Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
Community
Intervention Court
Heat Safety
Street Outreach
700 City -owned
Shelter Beds
Community Court
4
Mesa’s Crisis Response Model
5
Police
Fire & Medical
Emergency Shelter
Mental/Behavioral Health
Human Services Division
Office of Homeless Solutions Objective:
Create robust partnerships and comprehensive
services in addressing homelessness to support
a healthy and safe community for all in Mesa.
Core components
• Street Outreach
• Emergency Shelter
• Heat Safety
• Collaboration
• Support to first responders, neighborhoods
and businesses
6
Programs and Services
City Departments
Community Partners
City Involvement: Lessons Learned
7
Importance of Mesa’s Involvement
City of Mesa is the
entity best positioned
to coordinate a
systematic response
8
Police Department
Fire & Medical
Court & Jails
Park Safety
Libraries
Hospitals
Street Outreach
Heat Relief
Services
Shelter Services
Case Management
Higher Cost
Lower Cost
9
Diverting from Higher
Cost Systems
Importance of Mesa’s Involvement
Homelessness touches
nearly every public system:
• police
• fire/medical
• behavioral health
• Courts
• Libraries
• code enforcement
• housing services
neighborhoods
First Responder Support & Collaboration
Impact of homelessness on first responders
Importance of collaboration with homeless
services system
Benefits of Street Outreach, Shelter and
Heat Relief
Diverting from higher cost systems
10
Off the Streets Shelter Program Overview
•
5+ years emergency homeless shelter services
•
Focused on Mesa-based residents
•
Began with Martin v Boise, Covid funding and
rise in homelessness
•
Currently renting 85 rooms at Windemere Hotel
•
Supports Public Safety/Community Court
•
Good Neighbor Policy
•
Only Mesa shelter for families/women/seniors
11
Off The Streets Program Requirements
•
Up to a 90 day stay
Case Management services
Positive progress in the program required
•
Zero-tolerance drug policy
•
Regular room checks
•
Closed campus, no walk-up referrals
•
10:00 PM curfew
•
Connection to housing/employment services,
medical care (substance/mental health treatment, etc.)
•
Connection to elementary schools
12
Off the Streets Current Program Data
13
Source: Homeless Management Information System
30 Families with
57 Children
43 Seniors
64 Domestic
Violence Survivors
16 families and
18 individuals on
waitlist
As of
3/1/26
Off the Streets Program Data Calendar Year 2025
14
Source: Homeless Management Information System
Total unique clients served since
May 2020: 3,289
Off the Streets Program Data Calendar Year 2025
Source: Homeless Management Information System
15
Family Promise
Bridge Housing
Up to 10 Families with Minor Children
Up-to 60 days length of stay
Funded by private donations, grants,
and 12% government funding.
Eden Village
Permanent Housing
Single Adults
No cap on length of stay
Funded by private donations and
grants.
The Other Side
Village (Utah)
Permanent Housing
Single Adults
No cap on length of stay
Funded by client rent, social enterprise,
private donations, and grants. City land
contribution and funding for capital.
Other Program Models
16
OTS Program Transition to Sunaire
CONTINUES
*90-day structured
program
*Program management
Property management
*No walk ups
Transportation
*Police presence
Pet friendly
NEW
Control of campus
*Serving seniors, families
and domestic violence
victims ONLY
Additional family friendly
rooms
*Cameras
*Council Use Permit
Requirement/Good Neighbor Policy
17
Photo rendering
•
Existing program demonstrates success and
strong partnerships.
•
Ownership of property allows Mesa to control quality,
security, population served, citywide public safety.
ADA compliant/friendly
Pet friendly
Controlled access to campus/building
•
Federal ARPA funding supports investment in long-
term stability.
•
Ongoing cost savings and cost avoidance.
•
Alignment with city priorities and community needs
Benefits of Property Ownership
18
Community Sentiment & Engagement
71% of residents believe
the issue of homelessness
is the City of Mesa’s
responsibility to address
48% of residents
see homelessness as
an issue in Mesa
2023 Community Survey at
time of Sunaire purchase
19
Hotel Purchase Community Engagement 2023
•
Three large, well attended, community meetings and
many additional neighborhood meetings by request.
•
Three rounds of door-to-door visits and discussions with
area residents.
•
Meeting reminders and program updates via web, email,
social media, flyers, bilingual materials, resource line.
•
Connections to online resources and an extensive Q&A.
Property Ariel Views
Sunaire Program
1.3 acres
Windemere Hotel
13.6 acres
20
History of Sunaire
Community
Engagement
Summer 2023
Council Use Permit
Established
October 2023
Property Purchase
with ARPA funds
November 2023
Construction
Began
January 2025
Budget Established
in Forecast
May 2025
Construction
completion
March 2026
21
Timeline Based on Original Council Direction
22
Funding Source Breakdown : One-Time Costs
Off the Streets @ Sunaire – Budget Overview
Description
One-Time Cost
Funding Source
Property Purchase
$7,475,388
City ARPA: $3,475,388
County ARPA: $4,000,000
Architect Design
$386,041
ARPA
Construction
$5,285,205
ARPA
Total One-Time Property Cost:
$13,146,634
Furniture
Fixtures & Equipment
$450,000
$300,000
ARPA-Interest
Total One-Time FFE Cost:
$750,000
23
Off the Streets Program Budget
Sunaire
$85.27
Price per room/day with
case management*
Today
at Windemere
Windemere
$3.1M
85 Rooms/163 Beds
Windemere
$98.65
Price per room/day
with case management
Sunaire
$2.0M+ $0.5M
64 Rooms/158 Beds
+ Grab-n-go meals
Summer 2026
Sunaire opens
*Excludes grab-n-go meals cost for equal
comparison.
• Windemere contracts are ARPA funded in 2026.
• Windemere ends as Sunaire begins.
• Figures do not reflect cost for PD presence at
Windermere.
• Sunaire funding sources: general fund, APRA
interest and HOME ARP .
• Figures do not reflect cost for PD presence at
Sunaire.
24
Explore making Sunaire facility available to an emergency
shelter provider without city funding or oversite
Considerations:
• Feasibility of provider funding availability is low
• Removal of COM funding reduces alignment with council priorities
Community Health and Safety
• Loss of leverage to coordinate services
• Cost of police presence remains
• Saves operational costs but unknown long-term impact
25
Alternative to Original Council Direction
Sell Sunaire and Continue OTS at Windemere
Considerations:
• ARPA reimbursement requirements
$9.15M recaptured by US Treasury
$4M returned to Maricopa County per IGA
• Cost to maintain and manage property until sale
• Vacant property with risk of vandalism and damages
• Timing property sale and need for repayment may not align
• Risk of possible mixed hoteling legislation interfering with program operation
26
Alternative to Original Council Direction
Request For Direction
27
Staff Recommendation:
Complete the Move to Sunaire - 6733 E Main Street
Photo rendering
28
Mesa’s Housing Path
Strategy for Addressing Homelessness
EMERGENCY
Immediate shelter.
Safety.
Housing Plan.
STABILIZATION
More rules and
responsibilities.
Health and
employment needs.
BRIDGE TO SUCCESS
Demonstrated success.
Bridge housing.
Continued support
services.
Connected to
housing vouchers.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE
Rental assistance.
Housing vouchers.
INDEPENDENCE
Move to complete
independence.
Home ownership.
Other impacts: Mesa Evictions by Fiscal Year 2019-2024
Justice Court Evictions
*FY 24 data incomplete.
Does not include May or
June 2025 data.
*
Other Impacts & Trends in Mesa
3877
3939
4290
4935
5454
5783
5291
1973
2384
2830
2918
2876
2929
2346
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Individuals Receiving Services
Total Served in Mesa
Mesa Residents Served Countywide
Source: Homeless Management Information System
Snapshot on Homelessness in Mesa | City of Mesa Data Hub
History of Mesa’s Response to Homelessness
• Acknowledgment of citywide issue and more services are needed in Mesa.
• Desire for services in East Mesa and spreading service citywide.
• Awareness that City ownership of property and police presense will bring
positive impacts to the neighborhood and the program.
• Desire to volunteer and giveback.
• Goal of helping to minimize stigma for serving families and individuals in crisis
by having the right staffing, public safety and social service resources.
• Proud of city/community response to helping people and success of Off the
Streets program, especially the focus on families, elderly and domestic
violence victims.
Community Feedback: Common Themes
Hotel Purchase Community Engagement 2023
NIMBY concerns and concerns with impact on property values.
• Response: Good Neighbor Report with commitment to uplift the area, provide
communication feedback line.
Concern with current public safety in neighborhood and area – drug use, sex offenders, crime
in neighborhood and at businesses.
• Response: Mesa Police Department Public Safety meetings, connection and increased
focus, Good Neighbor Policy addresses dedicated police presence, strong rules and
program structure.
Concern with bringing additional homelessness to the area.
• Response: proactive outreach underway to respond to existing homelessness in the
area, closed-campus referral program.
Maintenance of property/area and commitment of the City overtime.
• Response: Comprehensive assessment of neighborhood to infuse resources and
updates to streetlights, street surface, trees, cleanups, ongoing neighborhood
engagement.
Fear of type of facility being used for alternate social services.
• Response: Limited use outlined in Good Neighbor Report, with requirement for council
approval for change.
Community Feedback: Common Themes
Hotel Purchase Community Engagement 2023
Program Funding FY 25/26
Program
Funding Source
Budget
Street Outreach/Case Management Opioid
General Fund
CDBG
$750,000
$274,000
$296,000
Heat Safety
County ARPA
General Fund
$235,000
$165,000
Community Court Case
Management
General Fund
$432,000
Functional Furniture
Bunk Bed
Twin Bed
*Adjustable for ADA needs
Queen Bed
Functional Furniture
Wardrobe
Shelving
Side/Dining Table
Chairs
Nightstand
Functional Furniture
•
Case Managers
•
Mesa Room (Intake, Meetings, Resident Gatherings)
•
Job/Housing Search Computer Stations