Tempe, AZ - More people experiencing homelessness in Tempe will be able to access shelter at a motel newly purchased by the city, accelerating the pace in which individuals and families are helped off the streets and into more permanent housing solutions.

This is the city’s second motel purchase designed to meet the needs of unsheltered people and the broader Tempe community.

Leveraging funds from Maricopa County, the City Council on Thursday approved the purchase of the 58-room Apache Inn along with an adjacent vacant lot to be used for future programming. The investment totaled nearly $10.7 million, with $7.3 million in county funds and the remainder from American Rescue Plan Act funds and other funding sources allocated to the city.

The new shelter, near Apache Boulevard and McClintock Drive, greatly increases resources for people in Tempe.

“Our goal in Tempe is to make homelessness rare, brief and one-time and that means continually enhancing and expanding our strategies,” said Mayor Corey Woods. “We have decreased homelessness by more than 30% in the past year and this new shelter will significantly bolster our efforts.”

The new shelter is expected to begin serving clients in early 2025 following improvements needed to transition it from a motel to a safe and secure location for unsheltered people. As part of Tempe’s investment, the city is using $500,000 in federal funds received through Congressman Greg Stanton’s office toward the purchase.

“Mayor Woods and the Tempe City Council have made it a top priority to address homelessness, but meaningful action requires collaboration at every level of government,” Rep. Stanton said. “I was proud to go to bat in Washington to bring home half a million dollars to increase shelter options, a much-needed addition to our broader strategy to combat homelessness.”

In 2021, the city purchased a 40-room motel, now called Sue’s Espacio, located east of the Apache Inn. Sue’s is outfitted for double occupancy as needed.

Between Sue’s and the new shelter, as many as 98 rooms could be available to serve those in need. Both are designed as non-congregate shelters, meaning residents stay in individual rooms rather than congregating in a large building with beds. The shelters are also intended as bridge shelters where people stay for a set period of time, such as 30 days. 

Sue’s Espacio serves people experiencing homelessness in Tempe, as will the new shelter. The city also works with regional shelter partners to find the best fit for those in need.

The city’s shelter residents work with case managers to access housing resolutions such as moving into their own apartment, reconnecting with family or moving to a longer-term shelter or treatment facility to address complex needs. Residents are also connected to resources that can support their success, such as the city’s Tempe Works jobs program, healthcare or veteran services.

“Those wrap-around services are really vital for our residents. Providing a safe haven is our first priority but then we need to tailor resources to their individual needs as they plan for the future,” said Tim Burch, Community Health and Human Services Director.

Homeless Solutions

In the City of Tempe’s latest Community Survey, residents said homelessness was their top priority. Investments and innovations in homeless solutions support not only city programs and services but also the work of community partners through grants and collaborations.

As a result of this strategic work, the city has:

• Reduced homelessness by more than 30% and chronic homelessness by approximately 39%, according to city and regional data points.
• Assisted nearly 1,600 people off the streets and into more permanent housing resolutions in the past two years.
• Expanded the Tempe Works jobs program with new employment partnerships to put more people to work.
• Enhanced resources by establishing the 24/7 CARE & HOPE Line at 480-350-8004 where people can get help for themselves or others in crisis. In the past two years, approximately 10,200 calls have come in and more than 5,100 have been related to homelessness.
• Convened an outreach collaborative with more than a dozen providers serving Tempe to ensure the best service delivery for unsheltered residents.

Give help

There are many ways people can help assist those who are unsheltered by working through existing, safe opportunities.

• Consider volunteering alongside our HOPE team to help engage with those in need and connect them to shelter and resources. Details at tempe.gov/EndingHomelessness.
• Tempe Community Action Agency operates the I-Help shelter and a food pantry. Learn how you can donate or volunteer at tempeaction.org.
• The City of Tempe supports Healthy Giving with its Real Change, Not Spare Change campaign. This effort promotes providing the most effective, lasting help that can assist people in ending their homelessness. Find nonprofits serving Tempe at tempe.gov/nonprofits.
• Tempe Community Council needs volunteers to assist with Agency Review, its grant process for nonprofits including those assisting unsheltered people and those at risk of homelessness. Learn more at tempecommunitycouncil.org.

Lear more about Tempe’s Homeless Solutions at tempe.gov/EndingHomelessness.