Phoenix officials report progress on homelessness services, behavioral-health response and police reforms

Phoenix City Council members heard a six-month status report Thursday on a package of public-safety reforms the council approved in September 2024, including new shelter beds and outdoor safe spaces, expanded non-police behavioral-health response teams and updates to police investigation and use-of-force procedures.

The update, delivered by city staff, police leaders and the Office of Accountability and Transparency, laid out specific capacity numbers and milestones while identifying remaining hires, technology and audit work needed to fully implement the reforms.

City officials said the Office of Homeless Solutions has funded or created 10 projects over three years that together added about 1,200 indoor beds and roughly 300 safe-outdoor-space slots, nearly doubling the city's recent bed capacity. "Now that we are fully open, 280 individuals can utilize this site to work to end their homelessness," Office of Homeless Solutions Director Rachel Milne said of the new Phoenix Navigation Center in the Van Buren area, which the city operates in partnership with nonprofit providers.

Milne told council the navigation center opened in temporary capacity in July 2024 and since then the center has helped more than 400 people, with 58 moving out of homelessness into housing. The city's downtown safe outdoor space at West Jackson can…