SE Valley Times

A recent work session by the Chandler City Council focused on evaluating the outcomes of services aimed at preventing homelessness and considering enforcement measures through urban camping and transit ordinances.

Chandler employs a continuum of services and a housing-first model to tackle homelessness. The city's navigator program, Chandler Connect, engages with individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, assisting them in obtaining temporary accommodations, connecting with healthcare and behavioral health services, and addressing outstanding issues within the criminal justice system.

The process allows individuals to progress through a range of housing options supported by intensive case management and housing stability services as they transition from temporary to transitional and eventually permanent housing.

Last year, Chandler's approach resulted in 86 percent positive outcomes from initial outreach efforts to securing temporary, transitional, or permanent housing. For those who accepted assistance through Operation Open Door and were placed into temporary housing at a non-congregate shelter while officials sought long-term solutions, positive outcomes increased to 98 percent.

Residents are encouraged to support the city's ChangeUp program instead of giving directly to panhandlers. Donations fund Chandler’s homeless programs, which aim to reduce panhandling and promote service usage among those in need. Currently, Chandler receives approximately $8,500 annually in donations for this initiative.

The City Council also discussed court decisions related to homelessness, the passage of Proposition 312 in Arizona, existing ordinances addressing homelessness in Chandler, and similar ordinances adopted by other cities in the Valley.