How to Locate Homeless People in Arizona
Homelessness is a serious problem in Arizona. According to the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness (AZCEH), 14,677 Arizona residents were homeless in 2009. With the large number of homeless people and their tendency to change locations frequently, locating a homeless friend or family member can be a daunting task. However, a number of agencies and resources can be helpful in finding a homeless person.
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Instructions
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Contact local police departments in areas where you think the person in question could be. You may also decide to file a missing person report with a local police department. Provide the police with as much information you can about the person, including name, any aliases and photographs.
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Contact and visit homeless shelters. AZCEH reports that 57 percent of homeless people in Arizona live in shelters or transitional housing, so there is a good chance the person you are looking for has spent some time in a shelter. You can consult two directories of homeless shelters in Arizona, the Homeless Shelter Directory and AZCEH's directory. Give shelters as much information about the missing person as possible.
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Contact homeless assistance agencies. The Arizona Department of Housing website has a directory of these agencies, organized by county.
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Contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Arizona, which provides assistance to people with mental illnesses. About 25 percent of homeless people suffer from mental illness, according to AZCEH.
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Conduct a missing person search through the Salvation Army. For a fee, the Salvation Army will perform a search of its national database for missing people.
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Contact other locations frequented by homeless people, such as health centers, hospitals, libraries, meal sites and service agencies. Photocopy and post fliers.
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