Homelessness can sometimes feel overwhelming and too complicated to solve. In Maricopa County, it’s a topic that touches almost every area. Conversations about homelessness, especially during election years, are often polarized. Some say homelessness is inevitable, others see it as a personal choice, while others see it as a necessary situation for some.
But this November, during National Homeless Awareness Month, it was time to change that story. Homelessness is a solution. In fact, there is already a change in the valley. It formulates not problems that homeless people cannot solve, but challenges to overcome.
Federal funding during the Covid-19 pandemic has shown us what we in the homeless services sector know all the time. With proper strategies and adequate funding, you can tackle the root causes of homelessness and create a pathway to stable housing. The influx of resources allowed service providers to expand their housing programs, provide rent relief, provide critical support services, and prove that it is not an issue that homelessness cannot solve.
One of the major problems that lead to homelessness is the lack of affordable housing for low-income people. Building a new, affordable home is becoming more difficult due to rising material costs, labor shortages and high interest rates. These factors make it difficult to create affordable homes without revealing them. Complex zoning rules and community resistance also slow down efforts to help people find homes.
Other causes of homelessness include lack of access to critical services such as health care and employment support. Many people face unemployment, healthcare costs and social isolation, making it even more difficult when tough times come.
The current system for dealing with homelessness includes coordinated efforts to bring people from the streets, temporary shelters and rental assistance. These services are extremely important, but still face challenges. One of the big problems is finding rental units in tough markets. Even with rental support, many individuals and families are searching for housing for months without luck.
Hom, Inc. and a 2021 survey by the UMOM New Day Center found that many property owners in Maricopa County are reluctant to rent to people experiencing homelessness. Of the 103 property owners surveyed, many felt they were not engaged in finding solutions to homelessness. However, 79% said they would cooperate with a rental assistance program if the risk reduction fund is available to cover damages, unpaid rent, or lost income. Many also proposed financial incentives to overcome rental assistance restrictions.
2022, Hom, Inc. has launched a threshold with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fill this gap. Hom, Inc. By leveraging the housing expertise and feedback from strategic partners such as the Arizona Multi-Harding Association, the threshold was designed as Arizona’s first intensive program, combining people experiencing homelessness with property owners who wish to embrace the Housing Assistance Program. The program provides financial incentives, refunds for financial losses, property management support, and a single contact for any issues that arise.
For the first time, the threshold changed the way people in the Housing Assistance Program find and secure homes in Maricopa County. It has grown from 92 units in five cities in 2021 to 1,648 units in 26 cities today. This expansion opened new housing options near employment, schools and healthcare, helping families and individuals rebuild their lives.
The success of a threshold is not just numbers. The rental assistance program currently has a lease up rate of 84.3%, with a 30% improvement over previous efforts. Also, there are 27 days less participants in the program to find a home compared to 2021. This will reduce families’ living in shelters or on the streets for 27 days. More people are getting a new opportunity to start.
Maricopa County has a clear answer to homelessness. The framework has already been implemented, with strong partnerships and results to back up results. Now is the time to focus on what works. But it’s not just about meeting immediate needs. It’s about building long-term solutions to strengthen our communities. All dollars spent on a home will help reduce the costs of emergency response, temporary shelters, healthcare and other critical services.
In addition to the appropriate funding to prevent homelessness, we must invest in solutions to meet the growing need for assistance. The currently in place system is gearing up to use funds more effectively and increase impact. If we had the resources we needed, what seemed impossible two years ago could now be achieved.
Together, we can reduce homelessness to one household at a time, but we need collective will to make it happen. The question is not whether a solution exists. That’s whether we support them. This month, let’s gather behind what works. The future of housing stability in Maricopa County depends on it.
Brian Petersen is the strategic voice of the homeless services industry across the state and founder of Arizona’s first centralized landlord liaison office. He is the president and chief operating officer of the company, connecting people experiencing homelessness and owners willing to embrace housing assistance programs. For more information, please see Thresholdaz.com.
