MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — Even though Phoenix’s largest homeless encampment was broken up late last year, the need for help is still obvious if you drive around the city.
However a new analysis done by the Phoenix Rescue Mission shows there are gaps in services and gaps in data previously collected county-wide.
"I think this survey shines a different and brighter light on issues we asked people about," said Ken Brissa, CEO of the Phoenix Rescue Mission.
For the past two years, the Phoenix Rescue Mission has been conducting a new resource gap analysis that goes beyond the one-day Point-In-Time count.
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The crews interviewed more than 1,000 people in Maricopa County including more than 750 people experiencing homelessness, along with providers and other stakeholders.
"We have been told that a study like this has not been done anywhere in the United States," Brissa said.
Some of their findings were surprising to people who have worked in this space for years, like the higher rate of substance use. 67% of those surveyed reported using drugs.
"It validates what we see or it helps bring in some disruptive data that helps us think about these issues afresh," said Nathan Smith, the Chief Program Officer with the Phoenix Rescue Mission.
The Mission worked with a third party to conduct the surveys to remove any bias.
"They gave us some really honest feedback to the questions," Smith said.
The I-Team recently interviewed groups of people staying on overpasses in Phoenix.
"This is for fentanyl," one person said, showing burned foil to 12News photojournalist Nolan Tournquist. "The main reason why I use it is it numbs everything."
Others expressed concern about going to shelters and difficulty in breaking the lifestyle some have had for years.
Nearly half of the unsheltered population that was surveyed in the analysis said they were staying on the streets after a negative experience in a shelter – like safety issues or overcrowding.
Other key takeaways from the surveys include that lacking basic needs and employment challenges were the hardest for people to overcome. The analysis also evaluates food insecurity.
They’re hoping it can not only help providers collaborate or make adjustments to their programming, but that it could also help with funding.
"What it says to us in the sheltering community, if you will, is that some of the problem is on us," Smith said.
The Phoenix Rescue Mission has been implementing changes as they’ve uncovered new data, like adjusting their residential recovery program.
"I came straight from jail," said Yvonne. "I was lost in my addiction."
Yvonne is part of the program after facing eviction, homelessness and arrest.
"At first it was a little hard to get used to," she shared, "But once I got into program, it was sky's the limit after that."
Now, she’s clean, looking for jobs and working on finishing her high school diploma.
But as the analysis and our reporting reveal, there isn’t a net to catch everyone where they’re at right now.
"I would like to have myself together," one person staying on the I-17 overpass told the I-Team. "Be home with my family."
Instead, she's huddled in a circle with two others. Lighting up the foil to take another hit of fentanyl.
The Phoenix Rescue Mission will be publishing its new data this week.
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