From shelter services and workforce training to responsible giving opportunities and public safety resources, there’s more being done to combat our region’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis than ever before.
Whether you’re witnessing someone in need of services or want to learn about ways you can be a part of a solution, help is near because: We’re In This Together.
Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI) is leading a grassroots community-driven campaign to shed light on all of the impactful work our city is doing to combat homelessness and the rising affordable housing deficit while simultaneously making it easier to navigate the wide array of services and resources readily available.
The We’re In This Together campaign aggregates dozens of service providers, non-profit organizations, and crisis hotlines in one easy-to-access location so that no matter where you are on the spectrum—from someone who is experiencing homelessness or facing hardship to those who’d like to make a positive contribution to a worthy cause—help is a just couple of smartphone clicks or a call away.
How we’re making a difference daily at Downtown Phoenix Inc. and Phoenix Community Alliance
Our Outreach Navigators and team of DTPHX Ambassadors are able to engage and counsel individuals experiencing homelessness in hopes of connecting them to needed services.
The program began with one dedicated DPI Outreach Navigator servicing the Downtown Business Core, to which DPI delivers enhanced municipal services. In 2022, the pilot program grew to include two dedicated Outreach Navigators, and the service area expanded north to Margaret T. Hance Park.
Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA), Downtown Phoenix Inc.’s Membership affiliate, has a Social & Housing Advancement Committee dedicated to facilitating and helping coordinate social services and affordable housing for those in need to positively impact the health of Downtown Phoenix.
The SHA Committee, often attended by 50-60 nonprofit service providers and corporate business leaders, focuses its advocacy work on the following challenges:
- While Downtown Phoenix is disproportionately impacted, homelessness is a regional issue and requires a regional response.
- How do we increase services and funding to prevent the impact of experiencing homelessness?
- City of Phoenix, especially Downtown, needs more workforce and affordable housing, particularly permanent supportive housing.
- Improving housing equity, specifically in the Downtown core.
These PCA Members also provide resources to individuals experiencing homelessness:
- Arizona Housing Inc. – Developer, owner and operator of permanent affordable supportive housing.
- Nourish PHX – helps with everyday basic needs, like food, clothing, shoes, and toiletries.
- Justa Center – One of the nation’s only resource and day centers exclusively for homeless seniors (age 55+) focused on providing services that help the seniors on their path to home.
- Arizona Housing Coalition – a collaborative association, leading the efforts to end homelessness and advocate for safe, affordable homes for all Arizonans.
- Arizona Liver Health– is comprised of nationally and internationally renowned liver disease specialists and provides liver disease care to individuals across the state of Arizona and other regions. VEN Centers is a community outreach program created by Arizona Liver Health that provides direct-to-patient testing/screening and treatment for Hepatitis C, HIV and other viral diseases.
The Downtown Phoenix Community Development Corporation — making Downtown a community for all.
The Downtown Phoenix Community Development Corporation (DPCDC) is a 501 (c) 4 nonprofit organization formed in 2001 to attract housing development in the Downtown Phoenix area. The DPCDC is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors representing a cross-section of community leaders and is driven by the needs of the Downtown community.
With the current mission of advancing the development and redevelopment of housing and mixed-use projects that will contribute to a more equitable and inclusive Downtown, the DPCDC collaborates with the Social & Housing Advancement (SHA) Committee of Phoenix Community Alliance (PCA).
The DPCDC is focused on providing assistance to private and public developers, including but not limited to the facilitation of the acquisition, redevelopment, rehabilitation, and construction of affordable to attainable residential product. In addition, the DPCDC works on community-based projects and planning processes to contribute to housing equity in the urban core of our city.
Being homeless is not a crime. However, if you witness a need that requires immediate response from Phoenix Police or Fire department, call 911.