The University of Arizona’s Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW), has released a new report which forecasts the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness across Arizona. This comprehensive model examines the association of unemployment, poverty, median rent, homeownership rate, and the rental vacancy rate with state-wide year-to-year change with homelessness. SIROW’s forecast also includes the average unemployment rate for the years 2008-2018; this information test whether stable state level factors contribute to differences in overall trajectories of change.
Conservative estimates predict homelessness in Arizona may increase by at least 29%. Though projected numbers may seem overwhelming, there are steps that agencies and our state and local leaders can take to help mitigate future challenges. Please take time to read the report and forward to folks in local leadership positions and decision makers.
Download the SIROW Homelessness Projection Report in here.
For questions and more information please contact Claudia Powell at claudiap@arizona.edu or Keith Bentele at keithb@email.arizona.edu