Scottsdale panel hears that unsheltered homelessness rose to 105; city and partners outline outreach, day centers and placements

Scottsdale — City human services staff and nonprofit partners told the Human Services Advisory Commission on Sept. 11 that the number of people the city counted living unsheltered rose to 105 this year and described ongoing outreach, day-relief services and placement work aimed at connecting people to housing and care.

City human services manager Sue Oh said the city conducts an annual point-in-time (PIT) count with Maricopa County and that "HUD requires that COCs conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and safe havens on a single night." She said Scottsdale’s unsheltered count was 105 this year, up from 89 last year and 64 in 2023, and that the largest age group interviewed in Scottsdale was 55 to 64. Oh added the count included six people who reported veteran status and roughly 26 females and 79 males in the local tally.

Why it matters: commissioners and presenters said the PIT count underestimates total need because outreach contacts, day-center visits and police contacts suggest a substantially larger population. The commission heard detailed service data and limits on capacity, and staff flagged logistical gaps the city and partners are exploring, including adding laundry services and potentially holding a PIT count at a different time of year.

What the city and partners said

Sue Oh summarized city-supported services: a city-contracted caseworker dedicated to homeless navigation and five Phoenix Rescue Mission (PRM) caseworkers who provide outreach, targeted joint outreach with the Scottsdale Police Department, court case management and case management at day-relief centers. Oh gave day center schedules: Community House operates Mondays 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Vista Del Camino operates Tuesday–Thursday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. She said the city’s in-house navigation caseworker and partner…