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Vista Del Camino reports surge in client contacts; CAP receives $253,000 Arizona housing allocation
Summary
Vista Del Camino reported large increases in client contacts and transportation assistance on Nov. 13; the Community Action Program also reported a $253,000 allocation from the Arizona Department of Housing for rent, utilities and other eligible assistance.
Jenny Mendoza, human-services supervisor for Vista Del Camino, told the Human Services Advisory Commission on Nov. 13 that Vista’s front desk and case-management teams handled a large volume of contacts in the last fiscal year and are seeing increased demand as state and federal benefits experience interruptions.
Mendoza reported that staff completed about 1,619 client intakes and that the organization recorded roughly 38,513 social-service contacts cumulatively across front-desk and casework functions for the fiscal year. She said Vista issued 1,342 bus passes to 43 households (including 242 passes supporting individuals receiving homeless navigation services) and distributed 550 gas cards to 14 households; caseworkers determine the length and type of pass by need (single-day, weekly or monthly) to support job interviews and employment.
Liz Hevenridge, operations supervisor for the Community Action Program (CAP) at Vista Del Camino, told commissioners that CAP has an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Maricopa County Human Services that funds caseworkers and direct service and that the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) allocation for the current fiscal year is $253,000 to support rent, utility and potentially other eligible assistance such as car repairs. Hevenridge said CAP submitted 331 LIHEAP applications on clients’ behalf last fiscal year and serves as a navigator for DES LIHEAP submissions.
Commissioners asked whether the ADOH allocation represented a high-water mark compared with prior years; Hevenridge said she did not have trend data at the meeting and deferred to records for historical comparisons. Commissioners also asked about processes when Vista cannot assist someone because funding limits are reached; Hevenridge said staff refer residents to other local resources (Paiute Center, senior centers, regional providers) and advocate with utilities and landlords where possible.
Mendoza and Hevenridge said Vista’s day relief services served about 760 unduplicated individuals last year and emphasized volunteer contributions (1,334 volunteer hours reported, estimated as nearly $40,000 in staff savings). Mendoza and other staff noted the food-bank truck retrofit (insulated refrigeration) is in progress, funded by HonorHealth, Blue Zones and the Scottsdale Firefighters Association, and that a fuller presentation on the food-bank operations is planned for January.
What’s next: CAP and Vista staff will follow up with the commission on funding-trend context and provide additional details in future meetings; commissioners encouraged continued outreach and cross-agency coordination.
