A new grant will support a variety of homelessness prevention solutions, include those serving the Valley’s veterans (photo courtesy of Catholic Charities).
Catholic Charities Community Services announced that it is a recipient of a $150,000 grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. The grant is earmarked to assist with the homelessness crisis in the Phoenix area. According to the most current Point in Time study, homelessness in Arizona increased by 8 percent from 2020 to 2024.
“With homelessness steadily rising in Arizona, it is critical for Catholic Charities to continue to provide much-needed services and resources for those at risk,” said Paul Mulligan, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “Because of the generous support from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, we are equipped to maximize our impact around Maricopa County through a variety of different programs we offer that work with individuals and families who are vulnerable to becoming homeless.”
The grant will be allocated toward a variety of homelessness prevention solutions for those enrolled in one of more than 20 programs offered by Catholic Charities. Examples of vulnerable populations include residents of affordable housing communities, refugee families, those utilizing veterans’ services, families with children enrolled in Westside Head Start early education programs and individuals seeking safety at domestic violence shelters. Thanks to the funding, a variety of assistance will be provided to these groups who are often at higher risk of becoming unhoused, the organization said.
The grant allocation will focus on ways to keep people housed through both direct and indirect support which will include temporary rental assistance, hotel vouchers, utility assistance, bus passes and transportation services and more.
Last year, Catholic Charities Community Services assisted more than 23,000 individuals, including more than 1,000 homeless veterans, more than 1,500 affordable housing residents who received support and resources through resident services, nearly 350 refugees resettling in the Phoenix area and more than 9,000 immigrants on a path to U.S. citizenship.
Learn more at www.catholiccharitiesaz.org.
