US News
Maricopa County housing hub leaves most assessed families without shelter, report says
A local homeless response system aided few applicants as shelter capacity dropped, according to ProPublica.
The short version
- A 2023 evaluation found that 94% of people evaluated for housing assistance by Maricopa County's Family Housing Hub received no help.[ProPublica]
- Federal data show the county's family shelter and transitional housing units decreased from 769 to 630 between 2024 and 2025.[ProPublica]
- Homeless families reported struggling to reach the hub through the 211 referral line and facing uncertain waits for filled shelters.[ProPublica]
Key facts
- A 2023 evaluation revealed that 94% of individuals assessed for housing aid through Maricopa County's Family Housing Hub did not receive assistance.[ProPublica]
- The number of family shelter and transitional housing units in Maricopa County fell from 769 to 630 between 2024 and 2025.[ProPublica]
- Family homelessness in Maricopa County climbed to its highest level in over a decade while area shelters remain full.[ProPublica]
- United Methodist Outreach Ministries, which oversees the hub, attempts to direct applicants to alternative options before placing them on shelter waitlists.[ProPublica]
What remains uncertain
- The 2023 hub evaluation did not track parents who failed to reach intake staff to determine whether they qualified for aid.[ProPublica]
- Families placed on the hub's waitlist were left unable to determine how long it would take to secure shelter.[ProPublica]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.