Reflections from the front lines serving people experiencing homelessness, counting down the days to the annual Mike McQuaid I am Home Breakfast (December 5th), waiting for the repercussions of the federal government shutdown on homeless services and people who may become unstable in their housing, and preparing for a special event this Friday, November 7th.
For perspective, the number of unsheltered around Key Campus was 162 this morning with an additional 339 unsheltered people in a greater radius. Total 501. And total sheltered in three spaces on the Campus about 900. Our greatest, most immediate concern is continuing to offer as many services as possible to these 1,401 people.
More than 20 years ago, several service provider organizations (Andre House, Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), County Healthcare for the Homeless, St. Joseph the Worker, and St. Vincent de Paul) operated programs for the homeless in downtown Phoenix. The numbers reported in the media and historical documents state “about 1,000 people” were homeless in the area. They built a vision for a Campus of human services.
Mike McQuaid was a volunteer at Andre House and became a face and voice for the effort to raise the funds to build a Campus. David Smith was the Maricopa County Manager. Don Keuth was President of Phoenix Community Alliance. These legends and giants in our community rallied their staff, volunteers, board members, elected officials and other business leaders to raise the money to create a space for services to be co-located.
MANY people were involved, my goal is not to list all of them here. I apologize for not stating by name all the people that I know played a role in making the Campus open.
My point is that this vision from 20+ years ago happened. The dollars were raised. The Campus did open on November 7, 2005. And it was an effort that relied upon the energy and fortitude of dozens upon dozens of people.
When the Campus was under construction, I was a Loaned Executive at Valley of the Sun United Way (VSUW). I was asked to join a volunteer group to do a site visit at CASS. This was the CASS of 2004, a single adult shelter operating out of an aging multi-story with about 400 beds. I remember looking out upon the expanse of dirt south of the building where the construction was underway. I met Dr. Kris Volcheck for the first time, as showed the group his two dental chairs in a trailer that served the homeless. Everyone was impressed that the future Campus would have a dental clinic with new equipment. I never imagined then that I would eventually work at the Campus and be responsible for all that happens there.
I recall being at the ribbon cutting on November 7, 2005. A sunny morning, a crowd full of dignitaries and community leaders. And probably the first instance when I met Mike McQuaid. At that time, I was an employee at VSUW responsible for the “Caring” impact area, holding the services for domestic violence, food banks, homelessness, and other safety net services. Again, I never imagined that my career path would take me to working at this fascinating new space.
Twenty years later I am grateful for the experiences that led me to working for Keys to Change and overseeing the Key Campus. Beyond the people I mentioned above, there are likely more than one hundred people I could list who have taught me, coached and mentored me, debated with me, laughed with me, built alliances and fought in the trenches with me in my time at VSUW and over the last eight years at Keys.
Maybe one of these days I will write all of those names down. I should… because 20 years from now when the 40th anniversary is celebrated, I will want to remember them.
It strikes me as funny that in 8th grade I detested History class. At a parent-teacher conference I was told I could do more, and I wouldn’t receive an “A” because I wasn’t doing anything for extra credit. I made some snarky remark about not understanding why we had to learn all this stuff that happened hundreds of years ago.
Today it’s the history of downtown Phoenix, of the service provider organizations, and the people who built the Campus that I am drawn to and learn from regularly. Perhaps with age and perspective I’ve learned the value of “History.” I’m sorry Mr. Dorsey! It took me awhile, and I get it now.
This Friday we celebrate the anniversary of the Key Campus, formerly known as Human Services Campus. We will hold a reception and short program. We will host tours and display a timeline of events. We will play a new video highlighting the power of the Campus. We will pause and honor our collective history.
And I hope we will create a new memory, one that reminds us that tackling and completing difficult projects is possible. The people experiencing and at-risk of homelessness are counting on us.
