Helping End Homelessness: Ways To Donate, Volunteer, Get Involved

Photo: Fara Illich

A host of Downtown Phoenix food banks and charities work year-round to serve the unemployed, working-poor or those without a permanent home. During the season of giving, consider donating to downtown organizations that are committed to ending homelessness. Many of them are in dire need of money, volunteers, nonperishable food, and other high-demand items like backpacks, jeans, underwear, socks, toothbrushes and other toiletries.

Here’s a few ideas on where to donate and how to volunteer locally this season:

The Human Services Campus / Jackson Street and 12th Avenue
A collaboration of multiple private, public and faith-based organizations in one central footprint, providing a host of wrap-around services for homeless adults. Volunteer opportunities are available across campus.

Campus Partners:

Andre House / 213 S. 11th Avenue / 602-252-0580
-Daily meal service
-Laundry, bag storage, showers & clothes
Central Arizona Shelter Services, Inc. (CASS) / 230 S. 12th Avenue / 602-229-1241
-Day shelter, housing & supportive services
-Dental health & hygiene
Lodestar Day Resource Center (LDRC) / 1125 W. Jackson Street / 602-393-9930
-Housing, legal & supportive services
-Post office & bag storage
–Click here for info on how to donate during the holidays
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul / 1075 W. Jackson Street / 602-850-6746
-Daily meal service
-Ministry & counseling
St. Joseph The Worker / 1125 W. Jackson Street / 602-417-9854
-Job development & life skills training
-Professional clothing, resume writing, etc.

More Downtown Nonprofits:

Catholic Charities – MANA House / 755 E. Willetta Street / 602-254-6785
MANA House (Marines, Army, Navy and Air Force) provides transitional housing for veterans in-need, providing many vital services including job search, Veteran Administration (VA) hospital enrollment, education programs (like GED), housing assistance, transportation and much more. Donation and volunteer opportunities can be found online.

Build Us Hope / Micro Homes on Madison Street and 12th Avenue / 602-535-5417
A long-term, permanent and community-based housing program, working to build homes with access to supportive services in mind. For people interested in sustainable building techniques, Build Us Hope is constructing two “green” micro homes near Madison Street and 12th Avenue, and looking for volunteers and donations.

Circle the City Healthcare for the Homeless / 300 W. Clarendon Avenue / 602-776-9000 

Circle the City provides care for individuals who are homeless or imminently homeless, or are currently hospitalized, and have nowhere to go after being being discharged. Circle the City offers two uptown healthcare facilities: the Medical Respite Center and Parsons Family Health Center. Donations are accepted online.

Friendly House / 723 S. First Avenue / 602-257-1870
In addition to providing food boxes for individuals and families in-need, Friendly House provides toiletries, rental assistance, workforce development, English language classes and a host of other programs and services aimed at promoting self-sufficiency. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the above address and tax deductible monetary donations are accepted online.

Hope’s Crossing / 830 N. First Avenue / 602-795-8098
After a period of incarceration, sometimes connections with loved ones are lost and criminal records can make securing a job and home very challenging. Hope’s Crossing provides a host of stabilization services to women post incarceration including short-term and long-term food support, transportation, referrals for child care and a host of other programs. Volunteers and donations are always needed.

ICM Food and Clothing Bank / 501 S. Ninth Avenue / 602-254-7450
The ICM Food and Clothing Bank helps meet the basic needs of more than 100 families struggling with poverty and homelessness every day, six days a week. In-kind donations of food, clothing and material goods are accepted until 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the back parking lot, just south of the building at Ninth Avenue. There are also numerous volunteer positions available.

Phoenix Rescue Mission Changing Lives Center / 338 N. 15th Avenue / 602-688-6211
The Changing Lives Center is the only faith-based recovery program in the region offering long-term, comprehensive services to women and children. Families can stay together while women work through addiction and abuse issues, eventually becoming self-sufficient through career assessment and job placement programs. There are numerous volunteer positions available and donations are graciously accepted.

Tumbleweed / 3707 N. Seventh Street / 602-271-9904
The Human Services Campus only serves adults, so downtown’s homeless youth and teens are referred to the Tumbleweed center, which provides emergency shelter, showers, laundry self-service, food and access to long-term support services. Donations are accepted online and volunteers are needed.

UMOM New Day Centers / 3333 E. Van Buren St. / 602-275-7852
Located east of downtown near the airport, UMOM provides shelter, transitional and permanent housing for women and families, in addition to supportive services like medical care and child care. Donations are accepted online and there are a host of volunteer opportunities available.