Published May 8, 2017
By Christina Estes, Annika Cline, Stina Sieg, Mariana Dale
We see them every day. The man standing along the freeway ramp asking for money. The woman, dressed in layers, pushing a shopping cart. People walking into libraries carrying bags stuffed with personal belongings.
Comments are made among co-workers, friends and family. It seems many people are talking around the issue of homelessness, but not really talking about it.
The elephant in the room is the person on the street
KJZZ hopes to start a community conversation by launching a five-part series on homelessness in the Valley. Explore the topics on this page for an in-depth look at the people and businesses affected, what's being done to improve things, and the most effective ways you can help.
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(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)We see them every day. The man standing along the freeway ramp asking for money. The woman, dressed in layers, pushing a shopping cart. People walking into libraries carrying bags stuffed with personal belongings. -
(Photo by Annika Cline - KJZZ)At any given time in Maricopa County, about 6,000 people are homeless. It might be surprising to learn that most homeless are sheltered. -
(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)The issue of homelessness touches all our lives – from public policy to our tax dollars, from our neighborhoods to our businesses. -
(Photo by Stina Sieg - KJZZ)On a recent Thursday, a few hundred people packed the gym at a Mormon church in Mesa. Some were living on the street. Others were in shelters. Some came with their dog, some with their kids. And all were matched up with a volunteer. -
Jackie Hai/KJZZThe question of how to help doesn’t have one right answer, even for those who have made their living working with the homeless population. There is a broad network that needs everything from food donations to people who can give haircuts and plant gardens. -
In addition to serving as a board member for Circle the City, Denise Miles is a former patient at the respite center. She is a mother, an aunt, a grandmother and an artist. Denise has also worked at the Arizona Department of Economic Security and Sojourner.
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Here are key terms used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to define homelessness. These definitions are important because they determine who can receive help from certain programs, and keep data consistent across areas. -
While reporting on the series Homeless in Plain Sight, KJZZ reporters compiled a list of frequently asked questions and answers surrounding the topic of homelessness. Here they are. -
They’re easy to spot as you drive around the Valley: people holding signs asking for handouts. Many people asked us why there are so many panhandlers and what police and government entities are doing about it. Here’s what we found.
Who worked on this story
Reporting: Christina Estes, Annika Cline, Stina Sieg, Mariana Dale
Editor: Al Macias
Digital: Jackie Hai, Kaleigh Shufeldt, Sky Schaudt
Graphic Design: Ambar Favela
Music: Bensound, Lee Rosevere