As a way to establish connection with our community, the City of Mesa has created Mesa CARES, a citywide initiative to assess community needs resulting from COVID-19. These outreach efforts will also aid in providing needed support and resources.
Mesa CARES starts today with more than 100 City employees who have been working from home being reassigned to the program. In their new assignments, they will be making contact via telephone, email or social media with non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations and other key community contacts, such as business and neighborhood leaders, to gain insights about the key issues, concerns and needs stemming from the pandemic. City Council will review the results at a special meeting April 14 to give direction on starting to meet those needs.
"This is exactly what we should be doing to help our residents. The survey will determine what is needed so we can shift our community resources to where they are needed the most." Mayor John Giles said. "We also believe this will allow us to better help our at-risk population, so they can stay at home and still get much-needed services from the City and our tremendous community partners,"
As part of initiative, the Mesa CARES Community Resources Call Center which opens today and is hosted and managed by Mesa Public Library, will be a phone line open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The calls will be answered by librarians, including staff members who are bilingual. The call center will be a reliable source of Mesa-based information for residents and businesses who can refer community members to available services.
The City will use the information collected from the Mesa CARES surveys to provide data necessary to access funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act approved by Congress March 27. Federal funding is expected to be available in approximately 30 days.
"We will also have additional staff reassigned to the Mesa CARES team to make sure we meet the federal requirements for reimbursement and to ensure the City takes full advantage of investing these funds in our community," City Manager Chris Brady said. "It is important that we stay on top of the process early and consistently to maximize the benefits to our residents and businesses."
The Mesa CARES Community Resources Call Center can be contacted at (480) 644-CARE. Information will also be available at www.mesaaz.gov/MesaCARES.
Public Information and Communications
Contact: Steven Wright
Tel. 480-644-2069
steven.wright@mesaaz.gov