More than 22,000 people in Maricopa County don’t have a place to call home, according to the 2016 Annual Homelessness Report by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and the numbers continue to rise. On a single night in January, there were 4,056 homeless individuals in shelters and 1,646 unsheltered homeless on the streets, a 28 percent increase from the 2016 Point in Time unsheltered count of 1,289.
Individuals experiencing homelessness in Phoenix often struggle to find a place to turn to when facing circumstances that leave them on the street. Native American Connections (NAC), Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care (Mercy Maricopa) are collaborating to give those individuals a new option.
On January 18, Native American Connections, Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa will open the doors to Camelback Pointe, a new 54-unit permanent supportive housing community, located at 1537 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix. Property tours will begin at 9 a.m. and the formal program will immediately follow at 10 a.m.
Permanent supportive housing allows individuals to live independently while having access to cost-effective and humane on-site services to support them through relapse, loss of income, daily living skills and serious physical health and general mental health issues. This support allows residents to increase their housing stability, reduce reliance on public services and improve their overall health and well-being.
Camelback Pointe is an important transit-oriented “housing first” community in Central Phoenix. It’s strategically located close to medical services, employment centers, and social and educational opportunities which support the wellness of residents, said Joe Keeper, NAC’s director of real estate.
“With the increase in homelessness, spaces like Camelback Pointe are vital to the community,” said Tad Gary, Mercy Maricopa’s chief operating officer. “We’re dedicated to continued collaboration with our community partners to help those individuals who need a safe place to live. We’re proud to be part of a housing initiative that will make a difference in the community.”
Diana “Dede” Yazzie Devine, Native American Connections president and CEO, said, “Camelback Pointe adds 54 more units of permanent supportive housing developed by Native American Connections, and brings together the wisdom and best practices of our experience in terms of building design and wrap around supportive service delivery. NAC has partnered with Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa to provide a home to the people who need it the most.”
Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa provided over $200,000 in 2017 to help fund 13 of the 54 units in the Central Phoenix complex.
