MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — Even though Phoenix's largest homeless encampment was dismantled late last year, the need for help is still evident as you drive through the city.

However, the new analysis Phoenix rescue operation It shows there are gaps in services and in data previously collected across the county.

“I think this study shines a different light on the questions we're asking people about,” said Ken Brissa, CEO of Phoenix Rescue Mission. Ta.

For the past two years, Phoenix Rescue Mission has been conducting new resource gap analyzes that go beyond the daily point-in-time count.

Crews interviewed more than 1,000 people, including more than 750 people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County, as well as health care providers and other stakeholders.

“I've heard that studies like this aren't being done anywhere in the United States,” Brissa said.

Some of their findings were surprising to those who have worked in the field for years, such as the high rates of drug use. 67% of those surveyed reported drug use.

“It helps validate what we're seeing or bring in some disruptive data that helps us think anew about these issues,” said Nathan Smith, chief program officer. . Phoenix rescue operation.

The Mission worked with a third party to conduct the investigation and eliminate bias.

“They gave us really honest feedback on the questions we asked,” Smith said.

of I-Team I recently interviewed a group of people staying on the Phoenix overpass.

“This is for fentanyl,” one person said as he showed 12News photojournalist Nolan Trunquist the burnt foil. “The main reason I use this is to numb everything.”

Some expressed concerns about going to a shelter and the difficulty of changing the lifestyle they had followed for years.

Nearly half of the unsheltered residents analyzed said they remained on the streets after experiencing negative experiences in shelters, such as safety issues or overcrowding.

Other key takeaways from the survey include the lack of basic needs and employment challenges for people are the most difficult to overcome. Food insecurity is also assessed in this analysis.

They hope this will not only help providers collaborate and coordinate programming, but also help raise funds.

“For those of us in the shelter community, we can say that part of the problem is us,” Smith said.

The Phoenix Rescue Mission has implemented changes, including adjustments to its housing recovery program, in response to new data discoveries.

“I just got out of prison,” Yvonne said. “I fell into an addiction.”

Yvonne entered the program after facing eviction, homelessness, and arrest.

“It was a little hard to get used to at first,” she says. “But once I got into the program, the sky was the limit after that.”

Now she's getting clean, looking for a job, and working on getting her high school diploma.

But as our analysis and our report reveals, there is currently no net to catch everyone.

“I want to be with you,” one person on the Interstate 17 overpass told the I-Team. “Please stay home with your family.”

Instead, she is huddled in a circle with two others. She lights the foil for another shot of fentanyl.

The Phoenix Rescue Mission plans to release new data this week.

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