Apache Junction CDC details volunteer cleanup work, eligibility and costs during funding interview

Apache Junction CDC vice chair Gail Evans told the Health and Human Services Commission on March 10 that the nonprofit focuses its cleanup work on homeowners who are physically, mentally or financially unable to maintain their properties and that the group relies on volunteers, donated tools and occasional paid dumpsters.

Evans said the CDC does not address rental properties, which remain the landlord’s responsibility, and that the group prioritizes cases code compliance identifies as meeting the nonprofit’s eligibility criteria.

The CDC’s presentation described a range of project sizes and costs. Evans said some cleanups use a 40‑yard rollout dumpster (which she estimated at “600 plus or minus dump fees” when used) while smaller jobs use the group’s trailer. She said the group counts volunteer time using the national volunteer value of $19.14 per hour to estimate in‑kind contribution.

"We only deal with the homeowners who can't take care of it themselves," Evans said. "We are a 501(c)(3), and we try to find local people that can donate a window. We've replaced windows and handicap ramps free of charge to people."

Evans told commissioners the CDC ran about 18 to 20 projects in 2024 and that its Make a Difference Day event drew 103 volunteers. She described other logistical details: the group provides rollouts for some city projects, coordinates volunteers and captains for neighborhood dumpster placements (typically placed Friday and retrieved Monday), and sometimes transports excess material to public works if dumpsters overflow.

Evans said the organization solicits donations and small grants, asks local developers for support and accepts in‑kind donations such as tools and door prizes for volunteer events. She said the CDC maintains a low‑cost phone line and Zoom account to keep its board reachable and to hold monthly board meetings while members work in the field.

Commissioners asked about how the CDC obtains consent for owners with cognitive impairment and about work in county islands; Evans said the group attempts to reach relatives or caretakers and that it has performed work in County Islands when requested and when eligibility criteria were met.

The presentation clarified that the CDC does not force services on individuals who decline help and that volunteers do not enter homes — the group removes only items outside the residence as documented by code compliance.

The CDC asked the commission to consider its FY2026 funding application; no final funding decision was taken at the March 10 meeting.

The CDC presentation was one of three applicant interviews on the agenda; Begin Again Homes was noted as having forfeited funding for the last two quarters of the fiscal year and withdrawn its FY2026 application, an item flagged for the March 31 meeting packet.

Evans's remarks and the commissioners' questions provide the commission more detail about the CDC's eligibility criteria, operating costs and volunteer capacity as it evaluates FY2026 grant requests. The commission is scheduled to meet again on March 31 for further agenda items.