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Glendale highlights housing assistance, homelessness outreach and library expansions
Summary
City staff presented community services achievements: $634,000 in home‑repair assistance to 54 homes in FY26, management of 1,400 housing vouchers, new workforce and library programs, and opioid‑settlement funding tied to homelessness response.
Community Services leaders told the Glendale City Council on June 9 that coordinated programs and partnerships have expanded housing stability, homeless outreach, workforce development and library services across the city.
"We build community through impactful services," Community Services staff said, summarizing a system‑of‑care model that co‑locates 28 service providers at a central facility and operates as an eighth Arizona@Work satellite in partnership with Maricopa County.
Staff reported $634,000 in FY26 assistance funded by Community Development Block Grant and wildfire funds for 54 home repairs and exterior improvements, and said the city manages more than 1,400 housing choice vouchers and operates 155 public housing units. The department described seven recent or near‑complete multifamily projects developed with low‑income housing tax credits that will preserve roughly 1,400 affordable units for 25–30 years and leverage more than half a billion dollars of private investment, staff said.
On homelessness and behavioral health, staff outlined a HOPE strategy (Homeless and Opioid Programs for Empowerment) that uses opioid settlement funds to link substance‑use treatment with homelessness services. Staff noted partnerships with Terros Health and Phoenix Rescue Mission and a multi‑jurisdictional West Valley Housing Assistance Center that provides shelter, transportation and other services.
Library staff described outreach and program growth: four public libraries offering more than 200 programs monthly, a 'library of things' pilot (main library houses grant‑funded items such as kitchen appliances and musical instruments), and a summer reading push that pushed circulation over 1 million items year‑to‑date.
Council members asked staff for more financial detail on rental and utility assistance and on homelessness response spending; staff said they would provide a breakdown. Staff also confirmed operational details such as where loanable 'library of things' items are housed and that the workforce development partnership has hosted multiple job fairs and distributed refurbished laptops through a Glendale Connects program.
No council action was taken; staff said they will provide requested follow‑up data and continue coordination with regional partners.
