Veterans Court Services
At a glance
- City Council approved two coordinated funding measures for Veterans Court programs serving veteran participants with substance use disorder and court-involved issues
- EMPACT/La Frontera received one-time SAMHSA grant extension payment for October 2025 services
- Arizona Administrative Office of Courts and Friends of the Court provided $172,900 for Veterans Court navigation and support services via Community Bridges contract expansion
- Public commenter Leonard Clark spoke in strong support of both items
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grant Extension
Background
Prosecutor's Office administered SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) grant funds since December 2016 to fund Veterans Court service expansion. Project provided access to substance use disorder treatment for veterans in Veterans Court without other access to no-cost treatment through EMPACT/La Frontera.
Funding Extension
Grant scheduled to end July 29, 2025. Prosecutor's Office obtained no-cost extension from SAMHSA to continue services through October 29, 2025. City Council authorized one-time payment to EMPACT/La Frontera for October 2025 services (amount not to exceed $6,219.90) under Ordinance S-52522, extending Ordinance S-45801 authority.
Decision
Passed 7-0 (Councilwoman Guardado and Councilman Waring absent) on January 7, 2026.
Arizona Court and Friends of Court Funding
Background
Office of Homeless Solutions provides support and services for people experiencing homelessness through various contracts and qualified vendor list awards. Existing Community Bridges contract (159460) provided navigation and supportive services for Community Court program.
New Funding
Arizona Administrative Office of Courts provided $169,900 retroactively; Friends of the Court, Inc. provided $3,000 for Veterans Court support services. Amendment to Emergency Shelter/Heat Related Respite Operator and Supportive Services Qualified Vendor List increased total funding by $172,900 (new QVL aggregate not to exceed $63,626,295). Community Bridges contract amended to add Veterans Court navigation and support services including group sessions and drug screening, new contract total not to exceed $1,012,900.
Previous Council Actions
City approved initial QVL with Ordinance S-49352 (January 25, 2023). Subsequent funding increases: Ordinance S-49924 ($13.3M, June 28, 2023); Ordinance S-50419 ($6,752,847, December 13, 2023); Ordinance S-50706 ($1,388,933, March 20, 2024); Ordinance S-50884 ($10.5M, May 15, 2024); Ordinance S-51541 ($15M, January 15, 2025); Ordinance S-52012 ($6,511,615, June 4, 2025).
Decision
Passed 7-0 (Guardado and Waring absent) on January 7, 2026 via Ordinance S-52535.
Log
2026-01-07 - City Council
- Item 61: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Funds (Ordinance S-52522) approved 7-0
- Item 63: Authorization to Retroactively Accept Funding from Arizona Administrative Office of Courts (Ordinance S-52535) approved 7-0