The CABHP Partners with Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH)

The ASU Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy is excited to announce a new collaborative partnership with the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) to promote awareness and interest in homelessness within the academic community. The ACEH is a non-profit organization that works to end homelessness through advocacy, education and community coordination. This affiliation will focus on providing graduate level homelessness studies on effective practices and policies; student learning opportunities through field placements, internships, externships, or practica in homelessness affiliated agencies and opportunities to develop academic research colloquia.

CABHP co-hosted the 17th Annual Statewide Conference in Homelessness held at the Black Canyon Conference Center in Phoenix, Arizona on October 18 -19, 2010. This state-wide conference attracted over three hundred community service providers and peer advocates who serve individuals and families impacted by homeless in Arizona. The conference theme was Challenging Times and Golden Opportunities: Bringing Arizona Home.  Dr. Jim O’Connell, a nationally recognized expert on homelessness from Harvard University, and Anthony Love, Deputy Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness were featured keynote speakers. The Conference also held its first annual Awards Reception.

Mattie McVey Lord, DES Homeless Programs Coordinator; Michael Shore, CEO of Hom, Inc.; Nick Margiotta, City of Phoenix Police Department; and CABHP’s Kristen Bean presented the first year preliminary results of Project H3: Home, Health, Hope, an innovative partnership of housing and property owners, human services, behavioral health, and medical service providers that offer housing, improved health, and supportive intervention or “Navigation” to the most vulnerable homeless people in Maricopa County.  Project H3’s goal is to provide permanent housing for the top 50 most vulnerable street homeless individuals, and improve the safety and livability of neighborhoods.  Navigation includes doing “whatever it takes” stated Nick Margiotta. Project H3 is inspiring, and reminded many service providers that they can make a difference in the lives of people who are homeless.

CABHP is conducting a research evaluation of Project H3’s Home, Health, Hope Navigation Program. Preliminary results show a statistically significant increase in participants’ quality of life on average within six months of receiving Navigation services. This includes major improvements for participants in safety, home environment, financial resources, leisure activities, physical environment, and access to services, information and transportation. Results also show a statistically significant increase in participants’ receipt of drug or alcohol abuse treatment, even though Project H3 practices harm reduction and does not require participants to receive treatment.