City of Phoenix Proposes New 300 Bed Shelter in West Phoenix

The City of Phoenix is proposing constructing a new City-owned shelter and navigation center at 11 S. 71st Avenue. The proposed shelter will create 280 of the 790 new shelter beds the Office of Homeless Solutions is partnering to add in 2024 and 2025, as part of the City’s continued commitment to expanding shelter capacity in Phoenix. Homelessness is increasing in the region and around the country. There is a critical need to have indoor locations for people, especially during the dangerous summer heat in Phoenix.

About the Site

The shelter would have 200 congregate beds in two Sprung Structures, one for men and one for women and another 80 non-congregate beds in XWing converted shipping container shelters. A third Sprung Structure would serve as the navigation center, offering on-site, individualized services to help people end their homelessness including case management, behavioral health services, and access to medical services. The site will also offer meals, personal property storage, RV parking and space for people’s pets.

Workforce Development

This facility will also have a unique focus on providing workforce opportunities for shelter guests. While staying at the shelter, guests will have the opportunity to obtain immediate employment and earn income through a partnership with St. Vincent de Paul.  The City of Phoenix is also planning to offer workforce development opportunities for guests offering connections to skills training and jobs.

Safety

The City of Phoenix is working with the community to ensure the proposed shelter will bring a positive impact to the area. This center will prioritize serving people experiencing homelessness in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Office of Homeless Solutions frequently conducts outreach in the area and there is a need for a safe, indoor location for people to stay and receive services to ultimately end their homelessness. The shelter will be a closed campus, meaning no walk-up services will be offered at this location and guests must be referred by an outreach service provider. The facility will have 24/7 security, a strict code of conduct and a curfew.

Community Feedback

The City of Phoenix values the feedback of the community and is currently gathering input and meeting with stakeholders about the proposed shelter to address any concerns. The City is working with the surrounding neighborhood organizations on the proposed stipulations for the site, including a six-month review of the use permit, once approved, and creating a 15-member community advisory committee that consists of a majority of local residents or neighbors. The proposed committee would meet monthly leading up to the opening of the proposed shelter and quarterly thereafter. The City will also work to finalize a Good Neighbor Agreement with the community. The Good Neighbor Agreement will address items not included in the stipulations that cover, in writing, how the City and shelter provider will work with neighbors to promptly address concerns.

Project and Outreach History

The Office of Homeless Solutions explored multiple sites for the proposed shelter in summer 2023. In November 2023, after doing its due diligence on the property, the City determined this property could be a viable option for the project. The Phoenix City Council approved the architectural and engineering contract in December 2023. The City provided initial notification of the proposed project to the surrounding neighborhood on January 4, 2024. The property is owned by the City and is properly zoned, but a portion of the site requires a use permit to operate a shelter. The City has requested two continuances of the zoning adjustment hearings, which were originally scheduled in February 2024, to allow additional time to work with the community to address their concerns.

The City followed the requirements to obtain a use permit, which included providing notification to property owners within 150 feet of the site and to any neighborhood associations within 600 feet of the site. There were no neighborhood associations within 600 feet, so the City proactively conducted additional outreach, including contacting the Si Se Puede Neighborhood Association, engaging the Fowler Elementary School District School Superintendent and Governing Board, and conducting outreach door-to-door at nearby homes and businesses to provide information about the plans, community meetings, and zoning hearings. The City presented at the Fowler Governing Board meeting on February 13 and hosted a community meeting at Fowler Elementary School on February 15.

What’s Next

Another community meeting will be held Thursday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Fowler Elementary School (6707 W. Van Buren St. Phoenix, AZ 85043).

The City of Phoenix will seek the approval of the Board of Adjustment on April 4, 2024, at 12 p.m. at Phoenix City Council Chambers. If the use permit is approved, the City will begin work on the site immediately, with the goal of opening the shelter this summer to serve people experiencing homelessness during the dangerous heat.

Options to attend the Board of Adjustment meeting or request to speak include:

In-person attendance at Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85007. Speaker and comment cards will be available at the meeting site.
Attend virtually. A link to register to attend and/or speak will be available when the agenda is posted at phoenix.gov/cityclerk/publicmeetings/notices. Registration to speak must be submitted no later than Tuesday, April 2 by 5:00 p.m. Reference case # ZA-734-23.
Hard copy submittals (letters, pictures, etc.) for consideration by the Board may be submitted in person at Phoenix City Hall, 2nd Floor Zoning Counter by Monday, March 25 by 5 p.m.

Residents who have any questions or concerns about the proposed shelter are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Homeless Solutions at [email protected].