American Rescue Plan Act
Strategic Plan
Mitigation and Care for Vulnerable Populations
Research has shown that the pandemic disproportionately impacts underserved populations. This program type provides resources to properly address the needs of persons experiencing or facing homelessness, persons suffering from mental and/or behavioral health conditions, veteran, seniors, and our refugee communities.
Note: * Indicates programs related to the City’s Homelessness Strategy
Explore Programs
Homelessness and Mental Health
On Sept. 21, 2021, City Council approved $9 million to provide more healthcare providers specifically focused on mental health, substance abuse, and other services that address physical health. This includes community-based outreach teams to connect residents to these services. This will include screening for Medicaid (AHCCCS) eligibility and assistance in applying. Additionally, City Council approved $1.5 million to provide services to those experiencing homelessness along the Salt River Project (SRP) canals and other areas throughout the City. This includes increased services for individuals in these areas as well as pilot project to train and pay individuals experiencing homelessness to conduct beautification projects and landscaping duties.
Edison Impact Hub
Funding will be used to retrofit the historic children’s hospital from a vacant, dilapidated building to a community services center that will provide medical offices and other services to the community.
U.S. Vets and Veteran Relief
Funds will provide relief for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness during the pandemic. Many of our vets are more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to living conditions, age, and chronic health complications. Funding could also provide additional operational support needed by the US Vets Organization to transition into the property purchased earlier this year with COVID Relief Funds.
Summer Heat Respite
Funds will be used to create a heat respite/cooling center to provide a place of respite during the summer for individuals experiencing homelessness. The center would be operated May through September for 7 days a week, during the warmest times of the day (9am-7pm) and provide guests with a place to socially distance due to COVID-19 and include meals, outreach, and other supports. Funding would be used for a temporary shelter, insurance, utilities, tables and chairs, security, janitorial services, bio-waste removal services, IT services, meals, water, and staffing.
Financial Assistance for Phoenix Refugee and Asylee Community
Funds will be used to support nonprofit agencies serving the refugee and asylee community, as well as to create full-time staff support to provide services to this community. These positions would act as navigators that would help this community navigate government services and programs.
Memory Café Program
This funding will expand the City’s Memory Café program for senior center members and their caregivers. Memory Cafes stimulate participants through music therapy, art and memory exercises, and are a key contributor to the Dementia Friendly City initiative.
Area Agency on Aging’s Goods2HOME
Funding will continue to support the Area of Agency on Aging’s Goods2HOME program which the City support with CARES Act funding in 2020. This program provides delivery services to low-income, disabled, and homebound seniors who need medication and sanitation supplies.
Justa Center
This funding will support the restoration of the Justa Center, a building currently owned by the Area Agency on Aging (AAA). The Justa Center serves vulnerable seniors experiencing homelessness and would seek to leverage funds with Maricopa County and the State to build a transitional or bridge housing complex next to the Justa Center.
Bus Stop Shelters
As part of the T2050 plan, the Public Transit Department has a goal of installing 80 new bus shelters per year. This additional funding will increase this goal to 100 shelters per year over the next two years. Bus shelters will be placed in locations currently without shade and provide heat relief to transit users.
*Transit Heat Relief Program
The goal of this summer program was to provide a 40-foot bus at the Human Services Campus where individuals experiencing homelessness are located to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths among vulnerable populations. The program ran from July 2021 to September 2021. Total number of individuals on the bus was tracked by the hour each day. These numbers may have been duplicated throughout the day.
Visit the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) page for Transit Heat Relief and/or the full data on the City's Open Data portal.