Central Arizona Shelter Services

On National Nonprofit Day, we celebrate the heart and soul of our community—the volunteers, donors, and partners who make our mission of ending and preventing homelessness possible. Together, we're changing lives, one step at a time. 💙

: 598 families experiencing homelessness, with a total of 2,089 persons in families were identified in the most recent Point in Time Count.

From 2018 to 2024 the number of families experiencing homelessness in Arizona increased by 15%.

Zena, a 49-year-old born with spinal meningitis, has faced significant physical health challenges throughout her life. A few years ago, she moved from California to Arizona to be closer to her family. Tragically, after her arrival in Arizona, Zena was struck by a motor vehicle, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. This left her dependent on her daughter for care, but the home was too small to accommodate everyone and Zena was asked to leave.

Zena found her way to CASS, where she obtained a bed at the single-adult shelter and began accessing supportive services. As she continued to recover from her injuries two years after the accident, her first step was applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

During meetings with her CASS case manager, Zena often mentioned her family in California. Recognizing the support this network could offer, her case manager suggested she consider moving back to California. Zena began having regular conversations with her brother about returning home, and when her memory issues caused her to forget, her case manager would remind her to check in.

In early June, Zena boarded a flight to California, hopeful about reuniting with her family and finding community service providers as caring as those at CASS.

"The unfathomable psychological stress of not having a place to live can be unbearable, causing some homeless mental health patients to self-medicate – but probably not for the reasons you would expect."

The Surprising Reasons Some Homeless Mental Health Patients Self-Medicate Homeless individuals often self-medicate because barriers to accessing mental health care leave them with few options for relief.

🌸Celebrating the strength and resilience of women on National Women's Day! Our dedication to ending homelessness and creating compassionate solutions is fueled by the incredible women we serve.🌸

Let’s work together to create a world where every woman has a place to call home, DONATE TODAY to CASS! 🏡

💖🍕 Our hearts and bellies are full thanks to Little Caesarss ' Love Kitchen! 💖🍕

Kids experiencing being unhoused deserve moments of joy, and last weekend they got to feel like any other kid with a tasty pizza party! HUGE THANK YOU to Little Caesars for having their Love Kitchen make a stop at our family shelter.

🎉 Big congratulations to Evan Wood, our Employee of the Month for August! 🎉

From excelling as a Case Manager at Vista Colina to shining as the East Valley Navigator, Evan's dedication and enthusiasm have made a huge impact. Their positivity, energy, and commitment to teamwork are truly inspiring. Congratulations, Evan, and thank you for making a difference every day at CASS! 👏🙌

Happy Assistance Dog Day! 🐾

At CASS, we recognize the challenging decisions our clients with animals must make. That's why we welcome service and emotional support animals with proper documentation at our downtown Phoenix shelter.

👉 Did you know: We also work with our partners to assist in obtaining this documentation or refer individuals to agencies that can help!

A heartfelt thank you to LHH for their generous donation of crucial heat relief items to Central Arizona Shelter Service. 🙌 Your support is essential in helping the unhoused population in Arizona stay safe and comfortable during the intense summer heat. Together, we’re making a significant impact! 💙

: According to the most recent Point in Time Count, from 2018 to 2024, the total number of chronically homeless in Arizona has increased by 119%

🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You to 12News and the TEGNA Foundation! 🌟

Your generous grant to CASS is a beacon of hope, helping us continue to provide essential services and support to those in need. Together, we're building a brighter future for our community. Thank you for making a difference! 💙

"One day, she sat down at a Phoenix bus stop during a hot day. That was the last thing she remembered before waking up in a hospital "with heat stroke."

"It was horrible. That was the sickest I've ever been," she said.

With the help of Central Arizona Shelter Services, she eventually got off drugs and found a job and an apartment. She's been doing well ever since, she said. But the memory of her experiences stays with her."

Pools, buses, cooling centers: How unsheltered people survive Arizona summer Anyone can succumb to heat illness in the Sonoran Desert's extreme temperatures, but unsheltered people are particularly vulnerable.

A huge thank you to Pacific Staging Company for their generous donation of up to 600 umbrellas to help our unhoused neighbors at CASS stay cool and protected during the summer. 😎 Your kindness and support make a LIFE-SAVING difference!

Celebrating Milestones at CASS!

Our team at Glendale's Norton Ramsey Empowerment Center took a well-deserved break from passing out new shoes to individuals experiencing homelessness to commemorate and celebrate Nicole Money's 8th work anniversary with CASS.

Over the last 8 years, Nicole has grown tremendously—starting as a Client Advocate, moving into Rapid Re-housing, and now continuing her case management career in the West Valley, helping individuals find stable housing. Her dedication and hard work have made a significant impact on our mission and community. Here's to many more years of making a difference together!

Congratulations to Development Coordinator Shanya Perez-Amaya.

Over the past year, Shanya's unwavering commitment and positive attitude have significantly contributed to our organization. Thank you for your dedication and hard work.

Imagine enduring record-breaking heatwaves in Arizona without shelter or relief. For our unhoused neighbors, every summer becomes a battle for survival. 🙏 This summer, become a CASS hero by donating, organizing a water drive, or collecting essential items our neighbors need to survive. Your support can make a life-saving difference.

VISIT cassaz.org/donate OR email [email protected]

We are absolutely THRILLED to announce that our Interim CEO, Phillip Scharf has been invited to advocate for those whose voices are often unheard.

Today, he stands in Washington, D.C., participating on a panel for the National Alliance to End Homelessness on the critical importance of creating effective emergency shelters!

CASS CEO Phillip Scharf was proud to represent Arizona providers at the Duke University HeatWise Policy Partnership Summit. The summit brought together researcher, policy makers and community leaders around the country to discuss making communities more resilient to extreme heat.

Be a hero tomorrow July 6th!

Join our Water Drive from 9-12pm and help us quench the thirst of our community's most vulnerable. ❤️ 💦 Keys to Change

You can also go to cassaz.org/shelter to donate to our heat relief efforts.

Be a hero on July 6th!

Join our Water Drive from 9-12pm and help us quench the thirst of our community's most vulnerable. ❤️ 💦

"The first-of-its-kind renovation could prove to be a model for the city as it seeks to fill the gap in housing and shelter needs."

Vacant Tucson fire station will become shelter amid city's affordable housing crunch The first-of-its-kind renovation could prove to be a model for Tucson as it seeks to fill the gap in housing and shelter needs.

Help us provide life saving water and heat relief.

You can drop off water on Saturday July 6 from 9am to 12pm. Go to 1300 W. Harrison St to find us.

Thirst Aid | Heat Relief - Keys to Change (formerly Human Services Campus) Key Campus needs over 120,000 bottles of water each month during the summer.

Our Interim CEO, Phillip Scharf, is honored to be the sole homeless service provider invited to participate in this week's HeatWise Policy Partnership at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability.

For many experiencing homelessness, having a voice in policy is rare. We are grateful for the opportunity to represent them and influence the future of heat policy in America.

In Maricopa County alone, hundreds lose their lives to heat each year—let's change that.

Feeling the heat? 🥵 Imagine facing it without access to water. 190 homeless individuals died in 2023 due to heat-associated deaths.

Time to turn empathy into action!

Join us in our water drive on Saturday, July 6th as we quench the thirst of those most in need, providing not just hydration, but hope in the scorching heat. ☀️💧

You can also support our heat relief at cassaz.org/shelter

Together, let's make every drop count. Will you step up and join us?

Thank you so much Lerner and Rowe for all you do for our community.

Congratulations to our 2024 Arizona Grant Cycle Recipients! Lerner & Rowe Gives Back awarded $271,610 to 21 amazing nonprofits. This year’s selected applicants rose to the top because of their organization’s alignment with Lerner & Rowe Gives Back’s mission and dedication to serving communities and breaking through health and socioeconomic barriers. Our Lerner & Rowe Gives Back team is excited to see the positive impact these Arizona nonprofits will have on their communities! For the full list of our 2024 Arizona grant cycle recipients visit our website: https://lernerandrowegivesback.org/news/2024-arizona-grant-cycle-recipients/

Control Alt Delete
TriState Legacy Connection
Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center
Dignity Health Foundation East Valley
Foster Arizona
Vista College Prep
Center for the Rights of Abused Children
BloomKidz
Hunkapi Programs, Inc
Phoenix Rescue Mission
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)
Chrysalis
The Be Kind People Project
Pass it On Soccer
Ryan House
Maggie's Place
Harvest Compassion Center/Mitchell Swaback Charities Inc.
The Copper Rain Foundation
Heart for the City
Central Arizona Shelter Services

A heartfelt thank you to Totten Tubes for providing much-needed water to our unsheltered neighbors this summer. 🌞 Your generosity ensures that our unsheltered community stays hydrated and healthy in these extreme temperature. Together, we're making a real difference. 🙏❤️

Thank you to Residence Inn by Marriot for donating linens and cleaning supplies. Sheets and towels are two of our biggest continuous needs at our Downtown Shelter. You can send critically needed items directly to CASS through our Amazon Wish List.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2GINHDYMBQ6Q4?ref_=list_d_wl_lfu_nav_2