Mesa is acting to promote the most effective, lasting help for people experiencing homelessness through healthy giving. Healthy giving considers the long-term impact on individuals, the environment, and the community at large. Healthy giving is an alternative to giving money or distributing goods directly to individuals experiencing homelessness in parks, street corners or other locations unaffiliated with an established service provider.

Generous community members are encouraged to continue giving from the heart by joining forces with established nonprofits and community organizations working to connect those in need with shelter, housing, case management and other sustainable services.

How to Give

Volunteer

Volunteer to prepare and serve meals at a licensed community kitchen to encourage safe, in-house dining instead of street feeding.

Donate

Provide local food banks with donations of nonperishable food, bottled water and toiletries to help the organization’s efforts.

Empower

Make financial contributions to support professional outreach teams trained to work with individuals in crisis on the street.

Mesa's Hand Up campaign is a great place to start to support individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Contributions to this campaign are distributed through the Office of Homeless Solutions programs including Off the Streets. Or consider donating to one of the many great local nonprofits that provide services to people experiencing homelessness.

Why Healthy Giving?

Healthy giving:

• Supports a person’s long-term needs like accepting shelter or substance use treatment
• Encourages residents to work hand-in-hand with established organizations with wrap-around services
• Strengthens the work of organizations already providing services that can help people end their homelessness
• Maximizes your giving

   

One-off donations:

• Delay or divert people from getting lasting help
• Meet needs temporarily, which means people feel less need to accept shelter and resources
• Can enable the purchase of inexpensive drugs such as fentanyl or prolong addictions, which could potentially lead to harm for children or families around those asking for money.

Safety Concerns

Mesa is concerned about the safety of people asking for and providing money at busy intersections and freeway entrances and exits. Stepping out among vehicles to collect money is dangerous, as it hinders the flow of traffic when lights turn green. Drivers and pedestrians can say hello and greet the individual instead of giving money.

Donation distribution (Title 6 Chapter 10) in parks or other public locations are also a safety concern and require an event permit in Mesa parks.

After public donation events, there is often trash accumulation and illegal dumping, which present public safety issues and keep our community from enjoying the public parks.

A permit is required for park events to ensure that there is personnel assigned to respond to support large gatherings of people, including park clean-up, food safety, and park security