Tempe recently launched a 24/7 hotline to help connect homeless people to resources. 

Before launching the hotline, homelessness calls were taken through the city’s CARE 7 program. That provides crisis help for a range of issues, including domestic violence, sexual assaults and car accidents.

On Aug. 5, the city opened the Care & Hope Line, designed to help the city’s unsheltered population.

Kristen Scharlau oversees CARE 7 and says the city has received far more calls about homelessness since launching the specific hotline.

“Forty-one phone calls last August specifically about services for and around homelessness. This August it’s 167 phone calls, so it’s a 307% increase,” said Scharlau.

She also mentions that residents can call the hotline when they see someone in need of help or want to learn more about the services provided. 

The Care & Hope hotline offers many services consisting of housing help, food and clothing resources, transportation and any other necessities the individual needs.

"Most of the people who take the time to pick up the phone and call this number are concerned about an individual and it's not about identifying encampments. It's about the compassionate people in this community who really want to help the unsheltered get connected with services," she said.

Scharlau said that because of the increase in call volume, they have increased their staff. Their staff goes through training and are onsite to assist the community 24/7. She highlights that her staff is different because they have, "compassion in their heart and a smile in their voice."

She believes that when you speak to people with a smile in your voice, then you have the best chance to connect with the individual and help them in any way they need.