City plans contracts with five sober‑living providers for 19 homes (176 beds); majority of funding from opioid resettlement funds

City staff described agreements the city will enter into with five sober‑living organizations that together operate 19 homes and 176 beds intended to serve unhoused residents and people exiting detox who lack stable housing.

Ryan Balch said the city issued an RFP and selected five licensed providers; "19 homes with a 176 beds will be available to us, when we need them," he said, after correcting an initial tally. Balch said the community navigation team will handle referrals and provide daily wraparound case management, including behavioral‑health support: "all of our community navigators are behavioral health technicians... they're also peer certified."

On outcomes, Balch cited last year’s performance data: he said staff served about 115 people and reported that roughly 71 percent “did not return to homelessness anywhere in Maricopa County.”

Funding and vendor locality were raised by council members. Council Member Harris asked why the city could not contract only with Chandler‑based businesses; Balch replied that the human‑services allocation process requires Chandler‑based agencies for certain funds and that the RFP outreach solicited all known Chandler organizations. Balch offered to do a deeper dive to identify additional Chandler‑based providers.

Next steps: Staff said the contract would start in May and run through the end of the next fiscal year; staff also said they will follow up with council on locality of providers and human‑services allocation options.