A domestic violence shelter placement hotline serving Maricopa County is set to shut down on May 15 due to a lack of federal funding. The hotline, operated by Solari and supported by the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, cost nearly $600,000 annually, with $200,000 previously funded by Phoenix through the American Rescue Plan. However, as fewer callers used the hotline—opting instead to contact shelters directly—and only 5% of calls resulted in shelter placements, the service was deemed inefficient. Despite its closure, shelters maintain a “virtual bed board” to coordinate available space, though it is not publicly accessible.

The shutdown highlights ongoing challenges in shelter capacity, with only about 444 beds available in Maricopa County and demand far exceeding supply, sometimes with 20 calls per bed. Survivors often face extended stays due to a lack of affordable housing, and shelters increasingly rely on temporary hotel placements limited to a few days. Jenna Panas, CEO of the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, emphasized the critical need for donations to support shelters directly and encouraged survivors to continue seeking help through existing hotlines and shelters to avoid feeling isolated or unsafe.