Maricopa County Partners with Mesa to Purchase Hotel for People Experiencing Homelessness
July 2023
At its June 28 meeting, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement that provides more than $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the City of Mesa to purchase a hotel. The hotel, located at 6733 E. Main Street in Mesa, will be used to provide emergency shelter and transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness.
“This partnership with Mesa allows us to work together to provide a safe and secure environment where individuals and families can find relief from the hardships of homelessness,” said Vice Chairman Jack Sellers, District 1. “Each investment we’ve made in partnership with Mesa is an investment in the well-being of our neighbors in need as well as an investment in the betterment of our community as a whole.”
It is estimated that the hotel’s 70 units will provide temporary housing for up to 500 people per year, of which, approximately eighty percent will include women, youth, and seniors. In addition to providing the safe housing people need to exit homelessness, wraparound services will be offered through the program to address issues that contribute to homelessness.
“We understand that addressing homelessness requires a comprehensive approach, and this hotel will serve as a cornerstone of our efforts in the City of Mesa. By combining emergency shelter with essential support services, we aim to empower individuals and families on their journey towards stability and being self-supporting,” said Supervisor Thomas Galvin, District 2.
The City of Mesa will be contributing more than $3.4 million of its federal funding to the project and will partner with Community Bridges, Inc. to provide case management and support services. Mesa plans to implement a ‘good neighbor policy’ that includes strategies such as a police presence, walls and gates to secure the campus, and the addition of landscaping to beautify the property. Acquisition of the hotel property is in progress and is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2023.
“Mesa is committed to being part of the solution in addressing homelessness in our region, and this purchase will strengthen our Off the Streets program with an emergency shelter facility. This collaboration with Maricopa County builds on our strong partnership with an investment that will pay dividends for the entire region,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles.
The acquisition of the hotel is one of many recent collaborations between Maricopa County and the City of Mesa to provide innovative solutions to provide homelessness solutions and economic growth opportunities.
On April 24, a $600,000 investment was announced that provides heat relief services in Mesa and Chandler including day respite centers, cooling stations, mobile heat relief services, and shower trailers to serve up to 600 individuals per day between April and September 2023.
On December 8, 2022, the Workforce Center @Mesa opened at 635 E. Broadway Rd. The center offers career seekers assistance with resumes, career guidance, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities as well as access to childcare and rent assistance.
On October 20, 2022, a $5.5 million investment was announced to replenish Mesa’s fund to provide emergency assistance to renters to prevent evictions and homelessness.
These partnerships are one of many ways that Maricopa County is working to develop comprehensive services to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness across the county. For a complete listing of Maricopa County’s investments in homelessness solutions, visit more information, visit Maricopa.gov/HS.
