Mesa’s emergency homeless shelter program could be jeopardy as some council members are calling for a halt to using city monies to fund the operations of Sunaire hotel.
The city purchased the former Grand Hotel on Main Street in 2023 with federal grants and hoped to temporarily move in families with young children, domestic violence survivors, seniors and veterans this summer.
The city currently leases rooms for its Off the Streets Program at the Windemere Hotel, using $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act federal funds that run out at the end of the year.
“We don’t think that the city should be in the business of owning and fully funding the operating of the shelter,” said Councilwoman Dorean Taylor, who was elected last November to represent the district that includes Sunaire. “Government’s role is limited.”…