Even with cooler temperatures, the Arizona largest mass shelter is still busy, but there’s some good news this holiday season.
Nathan Smith is the CEO for the Central Arizona Shelter Services, or CASS, in downtown Phoenix. The facility has 600 beds.
“It's always full. It's never not full. It's fuller than 600 at times. That’s true regardless of the weather," Smith said.
The good news says Smith is that they’re finally moving some of their older clients to a new shelter specifically designed for seniors.
“We have a temporary certificate of occupancy in place now. So, one of the buildings is open," Smith said. Seven people already moved in, and "we'll have 10 in there before the end of this week.”
And there will be more next week.
At the same time, Smith says they reopened the Vista Colina Family Shelter, which was closed for renovations. He says five households made up of 35 people are moved in.
“And here's the thing for me: they're celebrating Christmas in a home," Smith said.
A year of change
CASS is also making some changes to the way it does business in 2025. Smith says they’re shifting resources to what they do best, as he puts it: shelter services.
“And we're going to take our resources, and we're going to focus on the single adult shelter, the Senior Haven and the Vista Colina Family Shelter and be a phenomenal shelter provider. That is first things first, and then beyond that, we need to diversify our revenue," Smith said.
Dementia screenings to continue
Last year, CASS started screening its older clients for possible neurological disorders using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. At the time, more than 90% screened positive for dementia. Smith says they’re continuing to screen clients but they’ll be moving operations to their new senior shelter.
“So, as we start the Haven, all the stuff that we've been practicing with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and then making the referrals over into Circle the City, or navigation through like neurology and things of that nature, all of that will carry over.”
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