Programs
Keys to Change Programs
In Fiscal Year 2025, Keys to Change programs served 21,009 individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Keys to Change is proud to offer a range of innovative programs addressing the issues of homelessness prevention, emergency services and intervention, and access to housing in Maricopa County.
Prevention
Preventing new cases of homelessness is the only way to end it. Keys to Change offers the Diversion and Flex Funding programs to provide rapid resolution and stability to people on the edge losing their housing.
Diversion
The Diversion Program provides direct assistance for individuals to live with family or friends, preventing the need for them to enter the homeless services system at all. Family reunification is an effective and low-cost preventative measure.
Flex Fund
For people and families at risk of losing their housing, the Flex Funding program provides direct bill-pay assistance for expenses not covered by other programs, such as eviction prevention, storage bills, and move-in costs.
Intervention
The exit out of homelessness begins with addressing basic needs. Food, shelter, hygiene, safety, sleep. Then, a plan. Keys to Change offers emergency interventions and deeper service connections to the unhoused community to help each client unlock the way home.
Key Campus
As the owner/operator of Key Campus, Keys to Change provides the only 24/7/365 walk-up center for people experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County. Direct services include the Welcome Center, showers, storage, day room services, and the nation’s first mail room in the US for individuals without addresses.
Intake and Assessment
Keys to Change manages the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database on behalf of Maricopa County, ensuring that homeless service access points are accessible across the Valley to anyone in need of assistance, and facilitating intra-agency coordination across the region.
Project Connect
Project Connect is a traveling one-day pop-up resource event bringing Key Campus partners and local service providers to neighborhoods across Maricopa County, providing real-time homelessness and risk-prevention resources.
Street Outreach
Keys to Change Street Outreach provides direct boots-on-the-ground support to unsheltered individuals through daily outreach. The team works cross-functionally, often supporting a client’s entire journey from street to home.
Safe Outdoor Space
The Safe Outdoor Space is a collaborative project with the City of Phoenix. As an alternative to congregate shelter, the Safe Outdoor Space is a structured campground with wraparound services, case management, laundry and bathroom facilities, and 24-hour support staff.
Respiro
Respiro is a 24-hour emergency shelter located at Key Campus. The shelter is co-ed with space for 95 individuals. Shelter staff provide case support, employment assistance, and more. Positive exit rates to permanent housing are among the best in the sector.
Housing
Homelessness is a housing problem. We simply need more affordable housing. On a systems level, Keys to Change advocates for remove barriers to housing. Through our programs, we provide specialised navigation support to ensure our clients are set up for housing success.
Freedom Navigation
The Justice Opioid Program provides intensive support to justice-involved clients with opioid-related infractions on the road to recovery, with the goal of reducing recidivism and increasing positive housing outcomes. Freedom Navigators assist with legal appointments, housing applications, parole compliance, employment, and more.
Behavioral Health Navigation
Keys to Change Behavioral Health Coordinators work with individuals with mental health designations to provide expert housing navigation and hands-on support to high acuity clients, with the goal of finding best-fit housing options including Permanent Supportive Housing.
SOAR Navigation
SOAR (Social Security Recovery Assistance) Specialists work with clients to file for Social Security and disability benefits, shortening the length of time for approval by months or even years. In Fiscal Year 2025, the SOAR office secured $390,000 in Social Security backpay for Keys to Change clients, in addition to nearly $40,000 in monthly benefits.