JUSTA CENTER INC

Justa Center is Arizona's only resource center exclusively serving the elderly homeless.

More than a day-shelter, we provide a warm shower, meals, and a place to store personal belongings, do laundry, receive healthcare and counseling, and access a computer.

Through professional staff and trained volunteers, deserving people are able to identify and receive earned veterans, disability, and social security benefits. Once an income stream is established, we assist in finding affordable housing for our member clients and provide a new bed, and a small starter kit of supplies to make their new house a home.

Justa Center is located at 1001 West Jefferson Street, near essential services and shelters, and just a few blocks from our State Capitol. In 2019, Justa Center has assisted an average of 25 seniors each month move into safe housing, including independent living, family reunification, assisted living, and hospice care. We have a success rate of 99% staying a year or longer in housing with the aid of our Ambassadors in the Extended Care program.

Currently, 135-180 people come to the Justa Center every day seeking help.
• Resource Development: Justa Center helps to establish financial resources for individuals which usually includes earned income from a variety of sources. This may include social security, disability, or veterans’ benefits.
• Employment: For those individuals who are able to work, we will assist them to construct a resume as well as helping with job searches. We will assist in helping with whatever educational needs they may have (literacy, GED, etc.). Justa Center also participates in the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which is a jobs training program through the Area Agency on Aging. The goal of this program is to provide part-time training opportunities in community service activities for low-income persons who are 55 years of age or older with poor employment prospects.
• Housing: Once a revenue source has been established, Justa Center helps the individual find the best affordable housing setting based on the needs and resources of the person. This can include independent living, assisted living, hospice or other supportive housing.
• Nursing: Medical support is provided on-site which includes care for chronic and acute medical conditions of Justa Center members, education on a variety of health related issues that impact our members and referrals to urgent care or emergency rooms. There is nursing coverage at Justa Center every weekday.
• Extended Care: An Extended Care Program provides wrap around services to our members who have moved to permanent housing. This follow-up reinforces that they are successful in their placement and don’t return to homelessness. Within the Extended Care Program, there is an Ambassador outreach which pairs a Justa member with a volunteer who assists with transportation, shopping, and offering support. The Ambassadors also serve as strong liaisons between Justa Center and the member.
• Counseling: Justa Center offers pastoral and incremental counseling to provide assistance to members dealing with the many issues that negatively impact an individual who is homeless. These range from grief, isolation, domestic violence, substance abuse, and other fears and negative experiences.
• Veteran Advocacy: The percentage of veterans at Justa Center fluctuates, but we typically have anywhere from 20-30% of our members who are veterans. We employ one part time veteran’s advocate who assists our members with the various issues that may be keeping them homeless. This includes getting the necessary paperwork (DD-214s) in order to start receiving their VA benefits, assisting them find veteran housing, and working through the bureaucratic maze that can sometimes occur within the Veteran’s Administration.
• On-Site Resources: Justa Center also has representatives coming in from other agencies to provide resources on-site that we aren’t able to provide. This includes the Department of Economic Security to assist with Medicaid issues and food stamp applications; the Area Agency on Aging to assist with social security applications (as well as appeals when someone is denied). A weekly visit from the Social Security specialist to help certify benefits and an attorney comes in weekly to assist with any legal matters our members may have.
• Ancillary Services: Justa Center provides many other services to our members, such as paying for non-narcotic prescription drugs, reading glasses, emergency housing when a member needs to be off the street or out of the shelter for medical reasons, and transportation to and from medical appointments. Showers, laundry facilities and congregate meals are provided daily. Justa Center is also used as the members’ mail address.

Seniors over the age of 55 are the fastest growing segment of our local homeless population, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development projects a 33 percent increase in homelessness among adults over the age of 62 in the next ten years.

The Justa Center is a privately funded 501 c (3) organization with support from community members, faith groups, trusts and foundations who believe that seniors deserve a place to call home.

Justa Center’s hope and work is to provide seniors experiencing homelessness the full opportunity to live out their days in independence and with respect and dignity.