Neighborhood Services Department reopens motel as 170‑bed Haven shelter for seniors experiencing homelessness

The Neighborhood Services Department and its partners converted a former motel near I‑17 and Northern into the Haven, a 170‑bed emergency shelter serving seniors experiencing homelessness, department staff said.

The project was funded with Community Development Block Grant money allocated by the Neighborhood Services Department, the staff member said, calling the work “a great collaboration, between neighborhood services department, office homeless solutions, and our partner, CAS.”

Roland, a resident and one of the first occupants of the Haven, described his experience before moving in. “I got into, the SOS shelter, Fifteenth and Jackson Street, and next to you, I'm here,” Roland said, adding that staying at the Haven has been “a great place. That's all I can say. Again, it's the best Christmas gift I've received in a long time.” He also said, “It's very generous. It's very safe.”

According to the presentation, Roland lived in storage containers for almost a year before connecting with the Office of Homeless Solutions and moving into the Haven. The department’s statement said the facility provides emergency shelter capacity specifically for seniors; the presentation identified the bed count as 170.

The staff member framed the conversion as part of ongoing neighborhood revitalization efforts to increase access to nonprofit‑operated facilities and emergency housing in the area. Details about long‑term operations, intake capacity over time, or additional funding sources were not specified in the remarks.

Public commenters and staff said the renovation used Community Development Block Grant funds for rehabilitation of the former motel into the shelter; the presentation did not record a formal vote or council action during the remarks reported here.