The City of Mesa and Phoenix Rescue Mission are partnering to provide heat relief support, outreach, navigation and case management services to people experiencing homelessness. The effort is the result of a $530,000 Mesa grant to bring services to vulnerable city residents.
Summer is the most dangerous time for our unhoused neighbors, said Nathan Smith, Phoenix Rescue Mission chief program officer. Launching this program now allows us to provide crucial heat relief services to Mesa residents in need, with the goal of continuing services until they are connected to the appropriate resource that will help them get back on their feet.
The new program, which will run for one year through the end of June 2025, will address a variety of needs that unhoused individuals in Mesa experience, including:
Access to housing, both temporary and permanent
Access to drinking water, hygiene kits, Naloxone kits and seasonal items needed for those exposed to extreme heat and cold weather conditions.
Access to transportation options needed for housing placements, medical appointments, job interviews
Access to vital personal documents
In recent years, Maricopa County has experienced a concerning increase in heat-related illnesses and deaths," said Mayor Giles. "Protecting our vulnerable communities during the hot summer months requires a well-coordinated network of resources. The Phoenix Rescue Mission is a vital partner in providing social services, and their team is a welcome addition to Mesa's heat relief efforts."
Through this partnership, a Mesa-based PRM team will assess potential clients for service needs and connect them to a PRM, City of Mesa or community resource. Those who are not a match for PRMs services will be assessed for placement on the Maricopa County Coordinated Entry System for Individuals and Families. Clients will have access to transportation to and from services, and will also be provided with Kick-Starter Toolkit Assistance, which can include support in acquiring birth certificates, IDs, social security cards and more. Six PRM case managers will be added to the nonprofits team specifically for this initiative, as well as three new Hope Coach vehicles. Services will be available Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phoenix Rescue Mission is a proven expert at addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness. In 2023, Phoenix Rescue Missions Street Outreach team provided case management to 3,076 unhoused individuals across Maricopa County. In addition, the team was able to secure temporary or long-term residential placements for 830 people.
In June, the City of Mesa announced a partnership with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and other local organizations to provide heat relief services for unhoused individuals and other vulnerable Mesa residents through a federal grant from the American Rescue Plan Act and general funds. To address homeless in Mesa year-round, the Mesa Housing Path offers various access points throughout the community to get the most vulnerable Mesa-based individuals off the streets and in contact with the resources and support needed for safe housing, stability, and life skills to achieve sustainable success. Additionally, its Off the Streets program provides a temporary housing program with strong support services in partnership with Community Bridges, Inc.The program serves Mesas most vulnerable including seniors, Veterans, families with young children and single women.
For more information, please visit PhoenixRescueMission.org and Mesaaz.gov.