SafeLots
The
Problem
Our research over the last several months shows there are hundreds of unsheltered women with children and elderly currently living out of their cars across the Phoenix Valley. Through personal contact and interviews with dozens of these individuals we identified six priority areas of need: safe sleep, hot meal, access to showers, access to laundry facilities, heat relief, and assistance with accessing more permanent housing options. These interviews were conducted in partnership with several local school officials, Department of Child Safety, Phoenix Police Department and our LifeBridge Resource Center. Among them, we found that:
75% are currently employed with some form of income.
80% are “first time homeless” within 45 to 60 days.
These women and children are typically more difficult to identify. They tend to be transient and prefer to remain as “invisible” as possible landing in more remote or isolated spaces to park and spend the night. This isolation makes them even more vulnerable.
More permanent housing options are generally in very high demand and difficult to access in a timely manner. Simply stated there are not enough safe housing options for the women and children that can be quickly accessed.
Many of these women are emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted living each day in “survival” mode and are in desperate need of mentoring and community.
Our
Solution
We created the SafeLots Initiative to provide a safe and secure place where vetted and approved unsheltered woman with children and elderly will receive temporary respite and placement. Through our existing programs and services, along with a host of dedicated volunteers, we will provide every individual with the following:
Safe Sleep
Hot Meal (1)
Shower (Mobile Shower Trailer)
Laundry (Mobile Laundry Trailer)
Weather Relief
Access to already existing Lifebridge wrap around programs (GED prep and testing, job readiness and placement, health care and referrals, vehicle repair assistance, emergency food and hygiene products and more permanent housing assistance).
Proven
Results
There are approximately 20 communities across the U.S. who currently host safe parking programs. We interviewed (6) sites by one hour phone interviews and completed 11 in person site tours and interviews with programs in the Seattle area. We found that:
50% of the safe parking clients were assisted with permanent housing placement within 60 to 90 days.
Only 20% return to the safe parking program for a second time and 1% a third time.
Average number of safe parking participants on a single lot is 12-15 cars.