CHANDLER, Ariz. – A recent City Council work session offered insight about the outcomes achieved through Chandler’s services dedicated to the prevention of homelessness and a discussion of possible enforcement measures through urban camping and transit ordinances.
Chandler uses a continuum of services and housing-first model to address and prevent homelessness. Its navigator program, called Chandler Connect, engages people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and offers to assist them obtain temporary accommodations, connect with healthcare services and behavioral health services and address outstanding issues in the criminal justice system.
People can then progress through a continuum of housing and wrap around services that include the support of intensive case management and housing stability services as they move from temporary housing towards transitional housing and permanent housing.
Chandler’s approach generated 86 percent positive outcomes from initial outreach to getting people into temporary, transitional and permanent housing last year. Those figures increased to 98 percent positive outcomes for people who accepted assistance and were placed through Operation Open Door into temporary housing at a non-congregate shelter while Chandler officials worked on finding a long-term housing solution.
To help end homelessness, residents are encouraged to contribute to the city’s ChangeUp program rather than give to panhandlers. Donations support Chandler’s homeless programs, which reduces panhandling and encourages the use of services by those in need. Chandler currently receives about $8,500 annually in donations.
The City Council discussion then turned to a discussion of homeless-related court decisions, passage of Proposition 312 in Arizona and existing ordinances to address homelessness in Chandler. They also discussed ordinances adopted by other Valley cities.
As a result of that discussion, city staff were asked to prepare drafts of an urban camping ordinance and transit ordinance for consideration at a future City Council meeting later this spring. The ordinances would provide enforcement measures to prohibit urban camping and address impacts being experienced at transit facilities.