Twelve homeless seniors over 55 years of age were given a second chance in Goodyear by a grant from federal stimulus monies. It was to be a collaborative effort between United Way Valley of the Sun, Valle del sol and Just A Center in Phoenix. Since there were two married couples, ten apartments in goodyear were funded for eighteen months along with utilites. The program is to end in early 2013. There have been little to no services or case management supplied by either Valle del sol or United Way.
When the first three residents moved in they were told Ashley Furniture would be coming at 2:00 that day to deliver their furniture. It never happened. Everyone was given a mattress and boxspring set with bedrails. Some people had little or no furnture for months.
Valle del Sol has had at least six staff turnovers in ther past twelve months. The program originally was designed to be a wraparound program with many services for the clients. Very little was furnished.
Of the greatest concern is United Way and Valle del Sol are blaming each other. Valle del Sol refuses to give the clients coies of their medical records and case management reports. Some clients have never been in psychiatric care and there may be a paper trail where bills were submitted for case management that wasn't given. Per the Freedom of Infornation Act the clients have repeatedly asked for copiers of the contracts between United Way/Valle del Sol and Maricopa County, the grants used for Goodyear Housing First program, the benchmarks and how thr program wass supposed to end.
Originally the clients were told the apartments would turn into Section 8. That didn't happen so United Way is looking at county housing developments for the people who have income. The rest (at least half) will be returning to the shelter. One man from Uganda who has no green card, no medical and no food stamps and no money to get back to Uganda, has had his rent shut off as of August 31st.
HUD officials in Phoenix, Phoenix Housing, John McCain, Jon Kyl, Trent Franks and others have been contacted but to no avail. These people need a lawyer that will demand the documents on the program be turned over.
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