VVHC Strategic Plan

As you may be aware, our community’s most vulnerable individuals are not so very different from the rest of us. They often find themselves in homeless situations whether through poor planning, an unexpected crisis, mental illness or addiction. Many of the homeless struggle with unhealthy coping mechanisms in response to life’s circumstances often stemming from traumatic experiences.

Though homeless, each person has their own story and is on their own learning path. The Verde Valley Homeless Coalition (VVHC) believes in treating every person compassionately because they are part of our community. The VVHC seeks to offer a hand up to those in need, understanding that we all need help from time to time.

History of Continuum of Care and the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition

The Continuum of Care (CoC) and the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition started in the early 1990s after the Director of the Arizona Department of Housing approached the Site Director of Catholic Charities and asked that they facilitate the CoC which was at the time nonexistent in the Verde Valley.

Originally the meetings were held on a quarterly basis and facilitated by the Arizona Department of Housing.  The goal was always to make sure a continuum of care and housing resources to assist our communities in providing services to the most vulnerable in our community were available.  It was always a collaborative effort and involved many other nonprofit organizations as well as state and county agencies.

Through the collaboration of Catholic Charities, City of Cottonwood, Old Town Mission and the Arizona Department of Housing, it was decided a transitional housing project to serve families and individuals was needed.   The Department of Housing Catholic Charities was able to purchase what is now called Rio Verde Condominiums, which provided 12 units of transitional housing for families and individuals.  Tenants were able to stay up to 18 months and paid a third of their income in rent.  They were able to stay in housing as long as they followed program and housing rules and regulations.  In addition to the transitional housing, Catholic Charities Community Services through an emergency shelter grant with the Arizona Department of Economic Security were able to rent 4 units of housing for individuals and families which served as an emergency shelter, where they could stay rent free while getting back on their feet.  Catholic Charities provided a case manager for both the transitional housing and emergency shelter in order to provide support and services to the housing clients.  The emergency shelter was discontinued in 2008 due to lack of funding.  The transitional housing was converted to low income housing in 2010 and is owned by Catholic Charities and still serves individuals and families.

In the winter months of 2005, collaboration was tried between Catholic Charities and Mountain View United Methodist Church.  MVUMC provided shelter for families along with dinner and breakfast.  Catholic Charities provided the screening process and discussed the overnight rules.  This collaboration was discontinued after one winter for a couple of reasons: 1) push back from church leadership and 2) lack of families requiring these services.

In 2007 Catholic Charities opened up the LOFT homeless transition center at their offices in the upstairs portion of the building.  The center operated on donations and volunteers and was open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-5 p.m.  Services were provided to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in terms of showers, laundry, computers, telephone, clothing vouchers as well as survival supplies and food.  The LOFT closed its doors in February 2017 as Catholic Charities wanted to use the existing space to house women who were reintegrating into the community after being involved with the criminal justice system, having been incarcerated and needing supportive services.  It was felt this program was much more in line with their organizational mission.

HUD has required a Point-in-Time Count for all Continuums of Care since 2005.  It is required to occur sometime during the last 10 days of January.  Sheltered counts are required annually and unsheltered counts are required every other year.  The AZBOSCOC started conducting an unsheltered count on an annual basis in 2014. Point-in-time counts are important because they establish the dimensions of the problem of homelessness and help policymakers and program administrators track progress toward the goal of ending homelessness.

In 2010, ADOH in conjunction with CCCS applied for and was awarded a contract for 9 units of Permanent Supportive Housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness specifically for the Verde Valley.  It has continued to be awarded funding each year and the geographic focus remains the Verde Valley.  In addition CCCS has been awarded additional PSH grants over the years and many have been consolidated thru the HUD NOFA process resulting in two contacts of over 400K that serve both Coconino and Yavapai counties.  In addition CCCS administers a Rapid Rehousing contract funded by ADOH Housing Trust funds that serves the entire Yavapai County.

Due to the extensive needs in the Verde Valley, the VVHC is expanding services to the homeless. We have changed from an advocacy group to an active service group and have received 501(c)(3) status.  In 2017, an executive director was hired to continue to build the organization.  We are a board of volunteers plus one part-time paid Executive Director.

The VVHC provides a safe environment within the day transition center as a resource for informal coaching services, basic needs, and referrals to other service providers. The VVHC serves its visitors on an individualized level, establishing a sense of belonging, empowerment, and building a relationship of trust. The transition center also doubles as an invaluable space to house homeless individuals during inclement weather.

Even with the VVHC operating a Transition Center and Emergency Overnight Shelter from a rented 1400 square foot space on South Main Street in Cottonwood, Arizona, the need for services is greater than we can presently handle.

Chip Norton retired from the private sector in 2009 and began an encore career as a community volunteer in the Verde Valley of central Arizona. Since that time, Chip has served on more than ten governmental and nonprofit boards and commissions. His focus has been sustainable land and water use, with an emphasis on river and stream conservation. He also served as an officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Sedona Chapter) and as an instructor of their twelve-week Family-to-Family course. He is currently a Director of the Forever our Rivers Foundation (Colorado) and Chair of the Verde Natural Resource Conservation District. He is also President of Sinagua Malt, Inc., a Public Benefit Corporation.

Tim Elinski was born and raised in Arizona, and spent his childhood along the banks of the East Verde River north of Payson. After spending time in the Pacific Northwest and Eastern Europe, Elinski moved to the Verde Valley and purchased his home in Old Town Cottonwood where he now lives with his wife Ruth Ellen. Elinski is a licensed contractor who specializes in historic restoration. His hobbies include constantly working on his old home with his patient wife, pulling a vintage trailer along forgotten-about dirt roads in distant corners of our state, and learning by doing. Elinski has formed the Cottonwood Historic Preservation Commission and formerly served on Cottonwood's Planning and Zoning Commission.  Currently, Tim is the Mayor of the City of Cottonwood.

Christian Oliva del Rio has been with the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce for the past 14 years. During those years he has held various positions for the Chamber and has been promoted to President/CEO. Through his training and years of experience, he has been able to bring a variety of resources to enhance the membership’s ability to utilize current industry technologies. These skills have also allowed him the pleasure of promoting the community he loves, while providing workforce development and economic growth.

A native of California, Christian moved to the Verde Valley over 25 years ago. He has seen many changes, most of which have been for the good of the area. Thankfully, there are things that never change like the community camaraderie and the many wonderful things to do around Cottonwood and the Verde Valley.

Christian is a graduate of Verde Valley Leadership, Class II and served on that Board for two terms. He is a graduate of W.A.C.E. Academy, and US Chamber Institute program. He has served as Board Treasurer for Buena Vista Children’s Services, as well as for the Cottonwood Economic Development Council. He has also served on the Verde Valley Advisory Committee for Yavapai Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Rhonda Bishop spent the early part of her working life in different areas of health care with the ultimate goal of finishing her BSN.  An offer of training in business management altered the course she had been following and led her to various positions in management and human resources which have given her a large cache of information to draw on in the execution of her duties.  Having spent the past 7 years working in treatment facilities has given Rhonda a working knowledge of addiction, as well as mental health concerns which often accompany addiction. 

Rhonda is a member of the Cocopah Nation in Southwestern Arizona though her maternal family settled in the Verde Valley in the early 1950’s and except for briefly living in Washington State, the Verde Valley has always been home.  She and her husband are local business owners and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren and taking advantage of the extensive outdoor recreational opportunities in Northern Arizona.