This month, Circle the City officially broke ground on the East Valley Medical Respite Center in Mesa, Arizona, a huge step toward expanding compassionate healthcare for individuals facing homelessness.

The state-of-the-art facility which will be built near Higley and Main, will feature 85 beds, nearly doubling the capacity of each of Circle the City’s two existing Phoenix medical respite centers. The new center will address the rapidly growing number of those facing homelessness in the East Valley and their need for comprehensive medical care and will offer a range of services including 24/7 medical care, freshly cooked meals, behavioral healthcare, substance use intervention, physical therapy and other supportive services to help patients fully recover. The New York Times called Circle the City’s respite care program as being “one of the most sophisticated in the country.” Around 77% of medical respite patients who complete their plan of care leave with housing plans somewhere other than the streets or a shelter. The new center will be a win-win for both patients and the community, as it will create over 100 high-paying jobs and generate millions in local spending. The new facility is planned to be operational by 2026.