Arizona Silver Belt: Governor Katie Hobbs announced Monday that Arizona will distribute $13.5 million in state grant funding to support eviction prevention, homelessness response and housing referral services across the state.
The funding package, secured through the Arizona Promise Budget, will be allocated to nonprofit organizations and local governments to deliver services directly to individuals and families facing homelessness. The investment includes $8.5 million for eviction prevention and assistance, $4 million for homelessness response programs and $1 million for resource and referral services.
The announcement brings the Hobbs Administration’s total investment in rental assistance, eviction prevention and homelessness services to more than $150 million.
“As a social worker, I understand how important it is to keep Arizonans in their homes and give them the opportunity, security, and freedom they need to thrive,” Hobbs said. “Temporary setbacks should not condemn working families to a life on the streets.”
The eviction prevention funding will support 16 organizations across Arizona, including local governments in Phoenix, Glendale and Tempe, county social services departments, refugee resettlement agencies and community action programs. Recipients include A New Leaf, the Arizona Department of Child Safety’s Community Prevention Hubs, and regional councils of governments.
The $4 million for homelessness response will be distributed among 11 organizations, including Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), UMOM’s Family Housing Hub, Keys to Change and Catholic Charities Community Services. The Arizona Department of Child Safety will also receive funding for housing initiatives supporting youth transitioning from foster care.
The remaining $1 million will go to 211 Arizona (Solari) to bolster statewide resource and referral capacity for people seeking housing help and related services.
State Representative Quantá Crews, who recently visited Keys to Change and partner organizations, praised the collaborative approach. “They know how to take the investment we provide and stretch every dollar, using it wisely,” Crews said.
Crews shared her own experience with housing insecurity as a college student at Grand Canyon University. “I lived in my car because even with working multiple jobs, I could not afford a place to stay,” she said. “Rental assistance, rapid rehousing, and talking with people who truly understand can be the lifeline that changes everything.”
The administration emphasized that the funding reflects a comprehensive strategy recognizing prevention as crucial as response, aiming to reduce factors leading to housing instability through support for job training programs, mental health and addiction services, and educational opportunities.