Group hits streets to help Phoenix homeless
[Source: Lindsey Collom, Arizona Republic] — Phoenix police and Central Arizona Shelter Services are hitting the streets to help the homeless get the social services they need. A caravan of CASS specialists and Phoenix police crisscross the streets of downtown Phoenix four nights a week to seek out people without shelter and offer assistance, such as a place to stay or enrollment in a detox program. Officials say the outreach effort, which is nearly two years old, has reached more than 1,800 homeless and helped reduce violent and property crimes in the area from Seventh to 19th avenues and Van Buren Street to Grand Avenue.
Ben Zachariah, supervisor for adult services for CASS, and Phoenix police Sgt. Sean Connelly developed the street team to address root causes of homelessness, including mental illness and substance addiction. Connelly said police in the CASS area used to “arrest our way to solutions.” But the method was costly and largely ineffective: The city pays nearly $200 to book a suspect into Maricopa County jail on misdemeanor violations, and the suspect is typically released within hours. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
