Maricopa County has a rapidly growing homeless population, leading many people to face extraordinary challenges. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the percentage of homeless people in Arizona is increasing by 9.7%, higher than any other state in the country.
Sarah Lopert, 56, currently lives on the streets in downtown Phoenix. She has been homeless in Maricopa County for over 13 years. From birth, her life has been fraught with challenges. Abandoned at a very early age due to her birth mother’s substance abuse, she was adopted and hoped to have a normal life. However, like her birth mother, she turned to alcohol and drugs which played a significant role in her current situation.
Lopert got married, had two children, and moved to Arizona. She was later forced to give them up due to her substance abuse.
Rent prices are at an all time high in Arizona, which is contributing to Lopert’s inability to find suitable housing and regain custody of her children.
“I can’t afford an apartment out here, it’s $1,400 for two bedrooms, it’s a really bad thing,” she said.
Lopert has lived through a lot on the streets, including witnessing the killing of her friend.
Throughout all of these hardships, Lopert has tried to find shelters and programs. She has been in two programs so far, and is currently waiting for a bed in a substance abuse shelter.
“Living on the streets is very hard, it’s okay because I am doing prostitution, but that is no type of life.”
Lopert wants her kids, family, and life back. Without suitable housing, there is no chance that she will be able to regain custody of her children.
Lopert’s story helps emphasize The Maricopa Association of Governments Continuum of Care Committee’s (MAGCCC) goal to help the people who are struggling by finding the best plan for people to get their lives back on track.
Katie Gentry, a human services planner, said, “Through our member agencies, we want to fill 1,225 units and develop 3,000 new units by the end of 2022. We believe these are reachable goals.”
MAGCCC plans to meet their goal by using data and equity. Specifically, they plan to measure first time homeless, length of time homeless, job and income growth, returns to homelessness within a year, successful exits to permanent housing destinations, and successful permanent housing exits to permanent housing destinations.
Programs like Turn a New Leaf are also dedicated to finding permanent housing solutions for homeless people in Maricopa County. They provide shelters which include security and basic needs.
Corie Billingsly, program director of Turn a New Leaf, said that, “We need to help each and every person step by step. We need to stay engaged in the price increase of rent, food, and every day necessities.
The oversight, monitoring and evaluation of this data will determine the new ideas and plans that the MAGCCC will have.
Lopert is hopeful that plans and ideas like these will find her – and others – a permanent solution, adding, “I’ve seen the bottom so you won’t have to.”
Contact the reporter at saheisey@asu.edu.
