​The City of Phoenix is investing $8 million to help add more safe, indoor spaces for families experiencing homelessness. On Wednesday, the City Council approved two contracts with the Salvation Army and UMOM New Day Center, which will help more than 250 additional vulnerable families each year.

“The need for additional family shelter is urgent,” said Rachel Milne, Director of the Office of Homeless Solutions. “Right now, a family who is experiencing homelessness typically waits 10 to 11 weeks before they can get into a shelter. These projects are crucial so that the families aren’t forced to wait any longer to get a roof over their heads.”

The City is investing $6 million to add an additional family shelter building to the Salvation Army campus at 2707 E. Van Buren St. The new building will add 12 family units with beds for as many as 60 people. The expansion will increase the number of families the shelter can serve at one time from 24 to 36. It is expected that the additional rooms will serve more than 170 families each year, including more than 260 children. The Salvation Army Family Shelter currently provides housing, meals, case management, life skills classes, and occupational and crisis counseling to families for up to four months.

The City also allocated $2 million to create an additional 20 family shelter units at the UMOM New Day Centers campus at 3333 E Van Buren St. The funding will cover the remodeling and repurposing of an existing building on the campus which can serve an additional 80 families each year. Families typically stay in the shelter program for about 3 months.

Funding for the expansion of both Family Emergency Shelter Services is available from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and Community Development Block Grant coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security Act (CDBG-CV) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).