City Of Scottsdale: City Council Approves Nearly $2 Million To Social Service Agencies And Programs

Press release from the City of Scottsdale:

July 9, 2021

The Scottsdale City Council recently approved just more than$1.9 million for nonprofit agencies that provide programs and services to assist thousands of residents at risk and in need.

Funds help organizations like the Phoenix Rescue Mission through the Scottsdale Works 

Brick by Brick program. It provides jobs and resources to homeless individuals by paying participants to produce earthen bricks that can later be used to construct city projects or housing for the homeless. The program also allows the city to build a more sustainable future. Learn more about the program.

Some funding for the Phoenix Rescue Mission comes from residents who support Scottsdale Cares, the city’s voluntary utility bill donation program. Scottsdale Cares allocated $160,000 to 14 nonprofit agencies for this fiscal year, which ends in June 2022.  

In addition to Scottsdale Cares funding, the city’s Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) grant funding provided $100,000 to seven agencies, and the Endowment Program funded $8,700 to the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. 

The city shifted its General Fund priorities due to the coronavirus and its financial impact. In lieu of using General Fund dollars to finance social service partners, the city elected to contribute part of its SRPMIC award to the General Fund.

View the funded programs and dollar amount distributed to each. Detailed information is available on the June 22 City Council agenda.

Scottsdale Cares is a voluntary donation program that allows residents to add an extra $1 or more to their monthly city utility bill. Monies support programs that provide meals, emergency rent and mortgage, drug intervention and prevention, youth mentoring and self-sufficiency. 

Agencies funded:

• Best Buddies - $5,000

• Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central AZ – $5,000

• Community Bridges – $24,000

• Homeward Bound - $5,000

• Tempe Community Action Agency - $24,000

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community grant funding goes toward agencies that provide food and shelter services:    

• A New Leaf - $18,000

• Catholic Charities - $15,000

• Family Promise - $18,000

• UMOM New Day Centers - $8,000

The City Council in May also approved $1,310,812 in Community Development Block Grants and $344,448 in HOME funds, which support a variety of public facility improvements and community programs including high quality, safe and affordable housing for lower-income households. These are federally backed grant monies that must be used to benefit those whose income falls below 80 percent of Scottsdale's median level.

Learn about resources to help residents. Those interested in donating to programs can visit Scottsdale Shares.

This press release was produced by the City of Scottsdale. The views expressed here are the author’s own.