Dear Friends of Andre House: The numbers are just in from the January 2025 U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Point-In-Time count, which annually surveys homelessness, nationally and in Phoenix. According to the count, the Phoenix Metropolitan area (Maricopa County) had 9,734 people estimated to be homeless, a record-setting number, rising 3% since 2024. The count of people now actually living on the street, however, rocketed up 28% as the count of homeless dwelling in shelters plummeted over the term. With the phasing out of funding through COVID-era federal relief programs, local area shelters are now being forced to reduce the beds available for our guests, by the hundreds. Recent data also shows that 13% of Phoenix residents (593,130 individuals) now qualify as “food insecure” – including the addition of 60,000 more people in the last year alone. That's one in seven hungry in Phoenix! Food insecurity is defined as "a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.” As homelessness has jumped in Arizona 34% since 2019, those suffering from hunger in Phoenix comprise even greater numbers. What does this mean? As the primary dinner service provider to the homeless of downtown Phoenix, and as a critically necessary resource for many other services, we are heart-bound to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in the streets. We will turn no one away. We expected to serve 170,000 meals in this next year; however, based on the above, I believe we are heading towards numbers much higher than this. We are seeing and will continue to see greater demand for services at Andre House this coming year. With over 3,000 compassionate and loving volunteers who pledge their time yearly in service to our guests, we will have the "people-power". Help in other ways, too, is needed... Since 2021, Andre House has experienced an 86% total increase in food and supply costs. Our operating costs will continue to rise, both on account of the greater numbers of guests seeking our services, but also for the looming decline of free and discounted food supplies available to us from food banks, as they too, face the effects of funding reductions. Please prayerfully consider a renewed, and perhaps a monthly, pledge of support for Andre House. That we may continue to hold open the doors of our house of hospitality - that those now without a shelter, that those now without food, will find a place of welcome, care and love - we sincerely need your help. May God bless you! May He reward you for your consideration!  Jay Minich Interim Executive Director | 
