[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6241463,"mediaKeyId","3255897-d5ad7b6bdbaed1c4dc9ff673b7cc8756","parentId",3255897,"title","Human services caseworkers report backlog, LIHEAP delays and new Maricopa County flex funds","audioSeconds",770,"startMs",3078000,"endMs",3848000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255897-d5ad7b6bdbaed1c4dc9ff673b7cc8756&start=3078&end=3848","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255897-d5ad7b6bdbaed1c4dc9ff673b7cc8756/thumbnail_3078000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241463/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Human-services-caseworkers-report-backlog-LIHEAP-delays-and-new-Maricopa-County-flex-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241463-6dba647334619bb2cd122c160b1dbc6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159147&Signature=EqZI6bo-qhkK0AT1rLnbH3AcaCcKJAGnDm8A~yQk6twUuEmYf2pAFt6IUhkAmlikFMNLhg~GwmEkudU8l0tSa-c3fwFgm3dSpEmg~bV0KDwrIrD772oVCVEqTfgPGaRZ7VBygDr0C2pavd~7saCB~EqhheGppzHvVz0wEtNc5TeJ3QiifI~3eScIvBV8kiLINxnGCay60K4jYfwNuA6ATMD6vzuOAdaw5Pa9y0ezgxXLViLdYzNCIbhg4juJyrKG8ZNpv~y2DjiW6kxTrfoGpPnJe73E0IXDM1HLYYHpmGzBy2FCjuPNIWfryNQjcZe4Ei62V2JrKg9elXg8iu8h-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Scottsdale, AZ","date","2025-05-09T14:41:15Z","article","At the May 8 Human Services Advisory Commission meeting, Liz Hevenrich and other Vista Del Camino staff described a backlog of Community Action Program (CAP) applications, operational changes in LIHEAP processing, and a county-state funded housing stability flex program that provides time-limited case management and financial access for Scottsdale residents.

Hevenrich explained staffing and intake pressures in the CAP office: the office was temporarily down two caseworkers and reported a queue of 351 active applications — about 95 utility, 53 rent, two mortgage applications and 42 renewals. She said the backlog reflected both high demand and policy changes across multiple funding sources. Hevenrich said the office had filled one vacancy and was close to hiring another. She explained caseworkers process applications through Maricopa County’s Dynamics portal and noted the portal is complex and requires credentialing and training.

Staff described a significant operational change affecting utility assistance: Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) began processing LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) applications directly in October 2022 and DES experienced staffing issues in August 2024 that created a pending queue. Hevenrich told commissioners that DES’s current review time for LIHEAP applications is about seven months for standard applications, though disconnect notices are processed in about two days. She said Vista had navigated about 350 LIHEAP applications to DES in the fiscal year and many remain pending, forcing the CAP office to use other crisis resources while clients wait.

Liz described a recently amended Maricopa County intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that gives Scottsdale access to an Arizona Department of Housing-funded housing stability flex program. Staff said the city’s allocation under that IGA is $267,674 to be used through December 2025; the program provides up to 12 months of case management and can cover a wider set of needs (rent, utilities, eviction judgments, childcare, car repair) than some other CAP funding lines. Hevenrich emphasized the flex funds offer more intensive case management than the CAP office’s standard rent/utility funds.

Staff and commissioners discussed operational responses: front-desk admin staff were given portal access to perform administrative tasks and reduce caseworker call volume, pilot solutions were being developed in monthly Maricopa County convenings of CAP offices, and staff had created electronically fillable forms and e-signature processes to accelerate intake. Commissioners urged contingency planning for potential federal funding cuts and asked staff to coordinate regional advocacy. Hevenrich and staff characterized many of the proposals as near-term operational fixes pending broader system improvements.

No formal commission vote was taken; the presentation was informational. Staff will continue to report on pilot outcomes and hiring progress.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Scottsdale Housing Agency Governing Board and Human Services Advisory Commission - May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Vista Del Camino's CAP office told the Human Services Advisory Commission on May 8 that staffing gaps and changes in state LIHEAP processing have produced a backlog of rent and utility applications; Maricopa County has allocated a housing stability flex program that gives Scottsdale access to $267,674 with 12 months of case management per client.","taxTitle","Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2563,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6241466,"Vista Del Camino expands food bank, ramps rec programs and volunteer operations",3789,2018000,5807000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255897-d5ad7b6bdbaed1c4dc9ff673b7cc8756&start=2018&end=5807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255897-d5ad7b6bdbaed1c4dc9ff673b7cc8756/thumbnail_2018000.jpg","/articles/6241466/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Vista-Del-Camino-expands-food-bank-ramps-rec-programs-and-volunteer-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241466-57deeb78f15846fc607b2e01e8bb9904/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159147&Signature=G~4RIuN~cTqPo9JGeeec9AXaOIv~8k0-uHFIj9lm19JFYo-t5iRQVg1wa46NEyK-bwhy3em~ihDMairNs0Ut9u2OTKyl4a7tRyvu9~Jdjg7Gx5beX1mgpsWOHvHFjOnOdkN9TmSlGn4uoSKCKweur-u~kzHEQgY-ovdCa~IAeZev4UPGLwZ6SChg-muW0DYLWVB2J-H8ZNvmYdnSt1BC7L4r1fUnB4SeRQ45sO5A8u~V63KqNmk6~ZKvshe6U57Hx5FIDNLuXu3Nv1eavvWTP7vhAisM79KLYyr~xSLUHRf-2MezTj3rJYLaMO7KYadSR5wpg4xbq0WiCS4hSEWmXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 8 Human Services Advisory Commission meeting, Vista Del Camino staff briefed commissioners on expanded food bank operations, recent grants and community programming aimed at reducing food insecurity and strengthening family services.

Sue Oh, Vista Del Camino operations lead, introduced the update and described a move of the food bank into a new, larger warehouse at 7601 E. McKellips Road. Jonathan Montoya, described by Oh as “the backbone of the food bank operations,” now directs daily sorting and distribution; staff hosted a ribbon-cutting and open house in March. Oh said the new pantry houses freezers, refrigerators and volunteer work space and is visible from the street.

Jenny Mendoza, human service supervisor, summarized programs and usage. She reported that between July 2024 and March 2025 Vista supplied 3,094 food boxes, 3,168 ready-to-eat bags and distributed about 236,000 pounds of fresh food, serving 15,107 household visits (533 unduplicated households) and assigning a notional annual value of about $596,000 for food distributed. Mendoza described a multi-pronged distribution system: scheduled food-box appointments tailored to household needs, walking bags for people without transportation, ready-to-eat packs for people without kitchen access, and a bread-rack low-barrier program that allows residents to take items without an appointment.

Oh and Mendoza outlined grants and partnerships that support the food bank and programs: a $21,600 Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) grant to buy refrigeration and recreation equipment; continued partnership and donated emergency food boxes from St. Mary’s Food Bank; grocery-rescue pickups and donations; and a $5,000 donation from a local Elk’s Lodge to buy a freezer. Mendoza also described the Healthy Packs program (weekend nutrition bags for Scottsdale Unified School District students) funded by Scottsdale Community Partners and noted there are about 50 students on a waitlist.

Volunteers are central to operations, staff said. Vista’s regular weekly volunteer roster grew from about a dozen to 34 volunteers, with roughly 2,937 volunteer hours recorded for the fiscal year to date. Staff said volunteer recruitment continues and that the pantry could need 40–50 regular volunteers to sustain expanded operations.

Commissioners asked about the source and provenance of the USDN funding and about opportunities to partner with other regional produce-rescue organizations; staff said the grant originally came through the city sustainability department and transitioned to human services and that they will review potential new partners consistent with existing agreements with St. Mary’s and other suppliers.

The updates were informational. No commission vote or contractual action was taken during the presentation.","At a May 8 Human Services Advisory Commission meeting, staff reported Vista Del Camino’s expanded food bank operations, new grants including an Urban Sustainability Directors Network award for pantry equipment, growing volunteer base and plans for expanded recreation programming in a cleared former warehouse space.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6241471,"Scottsdale housing agency: voucher costs rising, HUD reserves drawn down",752,228000,980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255897-d5ad7b6bdbaed1c4dc9ff673b7cc8756&start=228&end=980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255897-d5ad7b6bdbaed1c4dc9ff673b7cc8756/thumbnail_228000.jpg","/articles/6241471/Scottsdale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Scottsdale-housing-agency-voucher-costs-rising-HUD-reserves-drawn-down","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241471-b942fb41cd6aeb8b7f879c1384da016d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159147&Signature=Q8q5FduyCU9whbq9J8BtO1U7f1Hr69o6I8lLGsSN-NtojJeGJ1rup0XYZ9wfxQniNdUOWaJ~txfFIhfD4aRgBfrkk9I2RqrjlnBFN8w5iIzrDIP7HcXeAzLkd9OKUQCvodP36kBaDUJkZGy2JkK-tkS29EVZgsAZg0dooy0J0n-byh65DfhQP0aWJpsxBuuMNb~hVFkJi1CltKDwqGHebNer~QqksbhJfedSPGBuC-QFIw~3cyDeuCNuM0-C0I5iFrZbwIEyCYeGMHCtWINlwjxufygMvSj06nBwAyYU6Ecue0SYB2aeD8EQkh21vIVtOTMqEJ5C2V1BksNoRm1hgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mary, a housing agency staff member, presented the Scottsdale Housing Agency's Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) data to the Governing Board on May 8, outlining participant demographics, per-unit costs, HUD-held reserve levels and payment-standard practices.

The presentation showed that 64% of current HCV participants identify as Caucasian and the largest age group is 50–64. Mary said that at admission 51% of participants were recorded as disabled, 36% as elderly and 16% as homeless, noting individuals can fall into more than one category. She told the board, “As of December of 2023, we had $1,100,000 in our HUD held reserves.”

Mary walked the board through the HCV dashboard and explained the program’s scale: staff reported 535 families leased at the time the slide was made and later noted 549 families leased to date. She said the agency is using about 11% of its budgetary authority and that “the budget utilization is going up” as rents rise. The agency’s average per-unit HAP (housing assistance payment) was reported as $1,281 currently, with a projection to $1,350 by the end of 2025 if rents continue to increase.

On payment standards and HUD rules, Mary summarized HUD guidance and local practice: housing agencies may set payment standards between 90% and 110% of HUD fair market rents; the Scottsdale agency’s average payment standard in the dashboard data (February 2023 figures) was roughly 7% above fair market rent. She also explained administrative-fee rates for 2025, saying the agency’s primary administrative rate was $96.62 per unit leased and describing how a stepped fee structure would apply if unit-months leased exceeded a set threshold.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the dashboard’s comparability across markets and voucher sizes driving costs. Commissioner Cooley asked whether the dashboard allows market-to-market comparisons; Mary replied, “You can compare us to any other city.” Commissioner Jamieson asked about 1-bedroom versus 2-bedroom cost drivers and whether Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR) affected reported costs; Mary said the data reflected current leased individuals and that the slide used 02/2024 data so some local SAFMR impacts were not reflected on that particular slide.

No policy changes or votes on program rules were taken at the meeting; the item was informational. The board approved the previous meeting minutes earlier in the session by roll-call vote.","At a May 8 Scottsdale Housing Agency Governing Board meeting, staff presented up-to-date Housing Choice Voucher data showing rising per-unit costs, increased budget utilization, a draw on HUD-held reserves and demographic trends affecting program costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Human services caseworkers report backlog, LIHEAP delays and new Maricopa County flex funds

Vista Del Camino expands food bank, ramps rec programs and volunteer operations

Scottsdale housing agency: voucher costs rising, HUD reserves drawn down