Addressing Homelessness in Mesa
Mesa's Strategy to Address Homelessness
Homelessness has increased by 92% from 2018 to 2022 in Maricopa County. Our strategy is focused on addressing health and safety needs and improving the quality of life and housing stability for all in Mesa.
View Mesa‘s homelessness data dashboard
The Mesa Housing Path offers various access points throughout the community to get the most vulnerable Mesa-based individuals off the streets and in contact with the resources and support needed for safe housing, stability, and life skills to achieve sustainable success.
Emergency
Immediate shelter for those who accept services including referrals from Mesa staff and our community partners.
The Off the Streets program provides a safe place to sleep, food, clothing, access to mental health and substance use treatment and connection to other services. This resource allows us to enforce urban camping laws citywide, supporting our goal of a healthy and safe community for all. Referrals are made to the most appropriate program for stabilization.
Stabilization
A stable environment allows the client to establish a housing plan with a caseworker, receive support in getting identification and other essential documents, and continue to address health and safety needs.
Clients are connected to employment services like the Mesa Work Force Development Center and work through their housing plan, which is individualized based on the person’s circumstances and resources. From here, people may enter a transitional housing program or housing of their own.
Bridge to Success
Transition to more independence in programs that maintain built in structure, such as A New Leaf's Helaman House.
Wrap-around services continue with case managers while clients build work and credit history, establish savings for their own home, practice life skills and connect to rental assistance, housing vouchers or other long-term solution for affordable housing.
Rental Assistance
Access to services such as rental assistance or housing vouchers.
Homebuyer education, credit building and supportive assistance to achieve self-sufficiency. One year to unlimited support through Rapid Rehousing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and other voucher programs.
Independence
Graduation from housing voucher and rental assistance programs. Assistance to access down payment, loans, and reduced mortgage rate programs.
Why is homelessness increasing in Mesa?
The number of unsheltered people is increasing nationwide. In Mesa, the main reasons that are reported for homelessness are:
Unsafe environment, such as domestic violence, family dispute, overcrowding, or other hazardous living situations not related to violence
Financial reasons, such as loss of employment, eviction, inability to find affordable housing or economic hardship.
The face of people experiencing homelessness has changed in the last years too. 42% of our unsheltered neighbors live with one or more disabilities, 11% are 62 years of age or older, 4% are veterans, and 20% are survivors of domestic violence.
Mesa Housing Path Guiding Principles
1. Public health and safety is our priority
We lead with services to address public health and safety needs and improve quality of life for all in Mesa. We seek enforcement when crimes occur and seek a balance for use of public spaces so that all community members feel welcome and safe.
2. Wise investment of local and federal funding.
Mesa receives more than $5M each year in federal funding.We focus these resources on Mesa-based organizations and direct service to Mesa-based individuals to achieve meaningful, focused results.
3. Strong collaborations.
We collaborate with Mesa’s community organizations and work to support successful programs for wrap-around services tailored to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
4. Regional share of the costs and impacts.
Mesa is a leader in discussions and solutions to seek a regionwide approach, in order for all cities to share the costs and local impact.
5. Measure and communicate results.
We use data to demonstrate impact of services and funding through the City’s data portal and program updates.