>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

THE LATEST ON A MASSIVE ARIZONA MEDICAID SCANDAL INVOLVING SOBER LIVING HOMES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO TREAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

AND THE IMPACT OF BLACK VOTERS ON THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A PROJECT IN TEMPE THAT'S AIMED AT ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS IS SCHEDULED TO BE IN THE VALLEY NEXT MONDAY.

SHE'LL BE IN PHOENIX TO MARK THE 2-YEAR DATE SINCE THE US.

SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN ROE-V-WADE.

IT'S HER SECOND ABORTION RIGHTS-RELATED CAMPAIGN STOP IN ARIZONA IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS.

MONDAY'S EVENT WILL FOCUS ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN LATINO COMMUNITIES.

OTHER HEADLINES: WILDFIRES IN NEW MEXICO CONTINUE WITH DEVASTATING SCENES EMERGING FRO RUIDOSO.

THE TWO FIRES THAT ARE IMPACTIN THE COMMUNITY ARE EXPANDING AND STILL UNCONTAINED.

ONE PERSON IS REPORTED DEAD, 1400 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN LOST, AND A SECOND ROUND OF EVACUATIONS HAVE BEEN ORDERED WITH STATE POLICE BLOCKING TRAFFIC GOING INTO THE AREA TO HELP PEOPLE GET OUT.

THIS IS JUNETEENTH, A FEDERAL HOLIDAY TO CELEBRATE THE ENDING OF SLAVERY IN THE U.S. WITH THE FINAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IN TEXAS IN 1865.

RETIRED TEXAS SCHOOL TEACHER OPAL LEE, WHO HELP LEAD THE MOVEMENT TO MAKE JUNETEENTH A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, LED HER ANNUA TWO-AND-A HALF MILE FREEDOM MARCH THIS MORNING IN DALLAS.

LEE IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS THE, "GRANDMOTHER OF JUNETEENTH."

AND THE SPORTS WORLD CONTINUES TO REACT TO THE DEATH OF WILLIE MAYS, ARGUABLY THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYER IN HISTORY.

MAYS DIED LAST NIGHT AT THE AGE OF 93.

MAYS WAS KNOWN AS THE "SAY HEY" KID, AND AS A POWER-HITTING CENTERFIELDER, WAS EXCEPTIONAL AT ALL ASPECTS OF THE GAME.

IN 22-YEARS HE FINISHED WITH 66 HOMES RUNS, A .301 BATTING AVERAGE AND A JOY FOR THE GAME THAT MADE HIM BASEBALL'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE AMBASSADOR FOR GENERATIONS OF FANS.

>> MY DAD EDUCATED ME WHO HE REALLY WAS.

AND THAT'S HOW I BECAME FAMILY OF THE GIANTS.

THAT'S HOW HE BECAME A BIG FAN OF WILLIE.

HE'S MY IDOL.

AND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT, I HAD TEARS.

MAY HE REST IN PIECE.

IT'S AN IDOL FOREVER.

MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

>> AND A SCHEME INVOLVING FRAUDULENT.

REHAB PROGRAMS AT FAKE SOBER LIVING HOMES THAT TARGETED INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HAS COST THE STATE AT LEAST $2.3 BILLION IT'S BEING DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST GOVERNMENT SCANDALS IN ARIZONA HISTORY.

STEPHANIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN HELPING US KIND OF MAKE -- THIS IS FROM WHAT 2019 TO 2023?

>> THOSE ARE THE YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, YES, THERE IS SOME HE EVIDENCE THAT IT MAY STILL BE GOING ON.

BUT NOT NEARLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT WAS DURING THOSE FOUR YEARS.

>> AND THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SOBER LIVING HOMES THAT TREAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

BUT WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ALLING SOBER LIVING FRAUD IS A BIT MISLEADING BECAUSE MEDICARE BEING ARIZONA'S MEDICAID PROGRAM IS CALLED THE ARIZONA HEALTHCARE COST CONTINUED SYSTEM, IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T REIMBURSE SOBER LIVING HOMES.

SO WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING WAS MEDICAID FRAUD, BUT THERE WERE BAD ACTORS USING SOBER LIVING HOMES AS A WAY OF LURING PEOPLE INTO GETTING FAKE TREATMENT THAT THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE AND THEY WERE BILLING MEDICAID FOR TREATMENT THAT WASN'T PROVIDED.

>> SO BASICALLY I HAVE WHAT I CALL A SOBER LIVING HOME, BUT WHAT DO WE CALL IT, SOME SORT OF INSTITUTION OR GROUP HOME?

I WOULD BE RECRUITING -- AMERICAN-INDIANS TARGETED HERE -- RECRUITING NATIVE POPULATIONS TO -- EVERYONE I GET, I GET MORE MONEY FROM MEDICAID AND DOESN'T MATTER HOW I GET THEM.

DOES THAT -- IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> THAT'S ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT HAPPENED.

SOBER LIVING FRAUD IS NOT A NEW THING.

IF YOU GO BACK EIGHT YEARS IN FLORIDA IT HAPPENED THERE.

ALTHOUGH, TO SO-CALLED BAD ACTORS OR THE FRAUDULENT PROVIDERS TARGETED PRIVATE INSURANCE.

AND IN THIS CASE IN ARIZONA IT WAS GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYERS, THAT WERE DEFRAUDED.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT PEOPLE NEED RECOVERY TREATMENT IF YOU HAVE AN ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE, IF YOU -- YOU ARE DEPENDENT ON OPEN OTHERWISE, COULD YOU GO EVENTUAL RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR LIKE 30 DAYS OR 60 DAYS.

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO KILL YOU.

IT'S A CHRONIC ILLNESS.

SO THIS WHOLE RECOVERY INDUSTRY HAS BLOSSOMED IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT INSURANCE DOESN'T REIMBURSE FOR THESE RECOVERY GROUP HOMES.

BUT OFTEN YOU STILL NEED TREATMENT, RIGHT.

WHEN YOU'RE RECOVERING IN A SOBER LIVING HOME, YOU STILL NEED TREATMENT, BUT YOU CAN'T TELL SOMEBODY WHERE TO GET THAT TREATMENT.

YOU CAN'T INDUCE THEM, THAT'S CALLED PATIENT FOLKERING.

AND I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF COMPLICATED SO I HOPE I'M GOING THROUGH IT PROPERLY.

>> YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING THEY'RE BEING RECRUITED.

>> WELL, THEY WERE RECRUITED.

THERE WERE STORIES ABOUT THESE WHITE VANS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE -- AS OUR NATIVE AMERICAN REPORTER, SAID THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WERE HITTING DUCKS FOR THIS FRAUD.

THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TREATMENT FACILITIES ON THEIR RESERVATION.

AND THESE WHITE VANS WOULD GO UP TO THEIR RESERVATIONS AND SAY HEY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET IN THE VAN WITH ME, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU FREE TREATMENT.

I'LL GIVE YOU A FREE PLACE TO LIVE, FREE MEALS.

SOMETIMES THEY WOULD INDUCE -- YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE YOU A FREE DINNER AT KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN IF YOU JUST COME AND LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO TELL YOU.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT -- IN SOME CASES IT'S ALMOST LIKE KIDNAPPING BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WERE REPORTEDLY NOT ALWAYS -- YOU KNOW, THEY WERE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OR WHATEVER.

>> AND ALSO WERE BRIBED WITH ALCOHOL.

>> YEAH, IT WASN'T THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY PROVIDING TREATMENT, AND IT WAS IN THEIR FINANCIAL INTEREST TO KEEP PEOPLE GETTING TREATMENT BECAUSE THEY COULD KEEP BILLING.

AND THE AMOUNT THAT THEY WERE BILLING WAS UP TO, YOU KNOW, IN EXCESS OF $1,000 A DAY PER PATIENT.

AND I'VE HEARD ONE THAT WAS $1300 PER PATIENT PER DAY.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> IT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

AND IT DOES PAY TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE IN TREATMENT.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE REPORTING IS SHOWING THAT TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE IN TREATMENT THEY WERE APPLIED WITH ALCOHOL AND OTHER ADDICTED THINGS?

>> THERE ARE REPORTS THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE ARE ALREADY -- I'VE REPORTED ON THREE WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS BUT YESTERDAY I JUST FOUND A FOURTH.

AND IT'S -- THOSE REPORTS ARE THAT PEOPLE WERE LURED INTO THESE SOBER LIVING FACILITIES, THEY WERE PROMISED TREATMENT AT TREATMENT FACILITIES THAT WERE REGISTERED WITH ACCESS.

YOU HAD TO BE REGISTERED TO GO WITH THEM.

AND THEY WERE NOT GIVEN THE TREATMENT THEY NEEDED AND IN SOME CASES THESE PEOPLE WHO DIED, OR AT LEAST TWO OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED, THEY DIED OF OVERDOSES.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE NOT GETTING -- I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT'S ALLEGED IN THE LAWSUIT.

CERTAINLY REPORTED.

>> INDEED.

AND WHO ARE THESE BAD ACTOR AS SOON AS ARE THEY LICENSED?

ARE THEY PEOPLE THAT HAS HAVE HAD BUSINESS WITH THE STATE BEFORE?

>> WELL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE IN ORDER TO BILL MEDICAID, YOU HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED MEDICAID ACCESS PROVIDER.

SO HOW DID THESE PEOPLE BECOME REGISTERED PROVIDERS?

WELL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE WITH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES TO REGISTER AS A MEDICAID PROVIDER.

BUT IT ALSO WAS UP TO ACCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PROVIDERS WERE NOT CRIMINAL, RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF OVERSIGHT.

WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE MINDING THE STORE HERE AND MAKING SURE THESE KINDS OF THINGS EITHER DIDN'T HAPPEN OR ONCE THEY WERE REPORTED STOPPED?

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

WHAT WAS THE OVERSIGHT?

>> WELL, ARGUABLY IT WAS ACCESS THAT WAS IN CHARGE OF THIS.

AND I DID IN ONE OF MY STORIES INTERVIEW A FORMER MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT ACCESS WHO REALLY FEELS LIKE THE AGENCY DROPPED THE BALL.

SHE SAYS THAT AS EARLY AS JUNE OF 2021 SHE HAD ALERTED THEM TO HUGE BILLING DISCREPANCIES IN THE AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAM THAT WAS THE COMPONENT OF ACCESS THAT WAS REALLY TARGETED AS FRAUD.

>> HAS THE BALL BEEN PICKED UP, OR ARE SOME OF THE BAD ACTORS STILL DEALING WITH ACCESS?

>> WELL, ACCESS UNDER HEREDIA WHO TOOK LEADERSHIP OF THE AGENCY IN JANUARY OF '23, SHE HAS REALLY CRACKED DOWN.

SOME SAY SHE'S CRACKED DOWN TOO MUCH, BUT THE FRAUD HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DECLINED.

THEY'VE SUSPENDED NEARLY 400 PROVIDERS WITH CREDIBLE ACCUSATIONS OF FRAUD.

THEY'VE ALSO TERMINATED AT LEAST -- I THINK ABOUT 70 PROVIDERS OVER QUALITY OF CARE ISSUES.

SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME ACTION, AND THEN OF COURSE ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SIDE, THE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, THERE HAVE BEEN 71 INDICTMENTS.

ABOUT 28 WERE UNDER MARK BERNOVICH, A FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, BUT THE LARGE MAJORITY HAVE BEEN UNDER CHRIS MAY.

>> AND I THINK CHRIS MAY SAID BERNOVICH WAS ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL ON THIS.

>> SHE DID, AND SHE REITERATED THAT.

SHE SAID MAY 2023 WHEN THERE WAS A BIG PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THIS.

AND I DOUBLE-CHECKED WITH HER OFFICE, AND SHE STANDS BY THAT.

>> THIS WHOLE STORY IS JUST ROTTEN.

I MEAN, IT JUST SOUNDS TERRIBLE I MEAN, PRYING PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY CONTINUE TO BE SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF AND AS A CLIENT, IF YOU WILL, DARN NEAR KIDNAPPING IN THESE VANS ON NATIVE LAND.

PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY ARE PROBABLY TAKEN TO PLACES THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW EXIST.

WHAT IS NEXT IN ALL THIS?

ARE WE GOING TO SEE A FLOOD OF COURT CASE AS SOON AS WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT?

>> WELL, ALL OF THESE CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING, AND SOME OF THEM ARE STARTING TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME MORE STORIES COMING UP.

WE'VE HAD SOME, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY BAD ABOUT THIS.

AND ONE IS THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WERE THE PRIMARY TARGETS.

THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMIZED.

IT WASN'T JUST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS THE HHS, I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THIS, AND THEY SAID IT'S THE LARGEST MEDICAID FRAUD ITS KIND TARGETING A SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP IN RECENT U.S. HISTORY.

SO THAT'S FIRST THING THAT'S BAD.

THE SECOND SOMETHING THAT TAXPAYER MONEY WAS FLEECED AND SOME OF THESE BAD ACTORS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FORFEITURES, THEY WERE BUYING REAL ESTATE, EXPENSIVE CARS, JEWELRY, HANDBAGS, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT WITH MORE THAN $2 BILLION IN TAXPAYER MONEY.

SO I DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING MORE OF THAT, AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE TO REPORT ON.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT MORE AND READ A LOT MORE FROM YOU AND AZVALLEYCENTRAL.COM GREAT JOB ON THIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND SHARING THE INFORMATION WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> NEXT, WHAT DO THESE DAUGHTERS SAY ABOUT THEIR HALL OF FAME DAD?

>> YOU GUYS ARE THE DAUGHTERS OF NFL HALL-OF-FAMER HENRY JORDAN.

>> HE DID A LOT OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, AND HE'S KNOWN FOR HIS WIT.

HE'S A VERY FINNEY MAN.

ONE OF THE FAMOUS THINGS THAT HE'S KNOWN FOR SAYING IS LOMBARDI TREATS US ALL THE SAME, LIKE DOGS.

>> REPORTER: HEAR MORE NEXT TIME.

A RECENT POLL OF BLACK VOTERS I THE SWING STATES OF MICHIGAN AN PENNSYLVANIA SHOWS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE SOME WORK TO DO TO ATTRACT A VOTING BLOCK THAT COULD PROVE CRUCIAL TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

JOINING US NOW IS POLITICAL CONSULTANT KARL GENTLES, A PARTNER AT THE GENTLES AGENCY.

THE GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

DID THIS POLL SURPRISE NEW ANYWAY?

>> IT DID A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S CLEAR THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

IT'S CLEAR THAT A MAJORITY OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS, BLACK VOTERS, HAVE SWUNG TOWARDS DEMOCRATIC PARTY OVER THE YEARS.

WE DID SEE IN THE POLL THERE'S SOME SLIPPAGE IN THERE AND SOMES ARE GOING TO TRUMP ON THAT.

I DIDN'T SEE A WIDE SWING THAT WOULD CAUSE ME OR ALARM ME BASED ON WHAT THE POLLS SHOW WITH THE TWO STATES.

>> IT SHOWED THAT THE BIDEN SUPPORT WAS DOWN FROM 2020 IN BOTH, 20% IN PENNSYLVANIA, 22% IN MICHIGAN.

THE CONCERNS WERE JOB PERFORMANCE AND AGE.

MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> WELL, I ACTUALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.

THE MISINFORMATION ECOSYSTEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY AIMED OF COURSE AT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO DRIVE DOWN SUPPORT.

I REALLY THINK, AT LEAST FROM THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE ACROSS -- QUITE FRANKLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, ET CETERA, THAT THE THING THAT REALLY DRIVES THIS FLIP IN SUPPORT IS REALLY NOT THOSE TWO THINGS.

IT'S MORE ON HOW THE ECONOMY IS DOING FOR THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND HOW THEY'RE DOING MORE DIRECTLY.

SO SENSATION HAS A LOT MORE TO DO WITH IT.

I THINK THE QUALITY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT THEIR SIDS HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO WITH IT.

I THINK THOSE KIND OF DIRECT ISSUES NOT NECESSARILY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGE OR JOB PERFORMANCE.

I THINK HIS JOB PERFORMANCE, AND FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM OTHERS ON THE JOB PERFORMANCE IS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD.

SO I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE DRIVING THIS.

AND I THINK MORE SO IT'S RELATED TO ECONOMIC ISSUES.

>> AND AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SURVEY HERE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NUMBERS.

AND TRUMP, NO BED OF ROSE FORCED HIM EITHER.

I MEAN, ALL THE PEOPLE AREN'T RUNNING OVER TO HIM.

IT WAS INTERESTING, A LOT OF -- I THINK IT WAS -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE NUMBER WAS, BUT SIGNIFICANT SAYING A BLACK VOTERS IN THESE TWO STATES ARE HIS CONVICTION AND THE HUSH MONEY TRIAL MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT REALLY DOES.

THAT DID STAND OUT IN THE POLL TO ME.

I THINK IT WAS BY 3 TO 1.

>> YES.

>> 3 TO 1 OR SO THAT SAID THE CONVICTION ON THESE CHARGES REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WOULD DISSUADE THEM FOR VOTING FOR TRUMP.

AND I THINK MORE BROADLY, I THINK AMERICANS IN GENERAL WOULD PROBABLY FEEL THE SAME GENERALLY.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

SO FAR FROM THE POLLING ACROSS MULTIPLE POLLS, IT HASN'T REALLY SEEMED TO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE AT THIS POINT.

BUT IT'S SAID THAT THIS POLITICAL SEASON REALLY PICKS UP AFTER MEMORIAL DAY AND STARTING TO GO THROUGH THE SUMMER NOW.

I THINK WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE -- OF THE MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION COMING OUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

I KNOW THAT TRUMP IS PUSHING -- APPARENTLY WHEN HE SPEAKS TOO BLACK IN BLACK COMMUNITIES IS SPEAKS TO AUDIENCES THAT HE GETS, HE'S PUSHING IMMIGRATION, CRIME, ALL BIG ISSUES.

HE'S ALSO SAYING THAT -- AND THESE ARE HIS WORDS, BLACK VOTERS IDENTIFY WITH THE JUDICIAL CORRUPTION ANGLE THAT HE IS PUSHING AND PROMOTING.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> NO.

THE SHORT SEAN NO.

-- THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

FOR THAT TO TRY TO SWAY VOTERS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO HAVE HAD REAL CHALLENGES AND ISSUES WITH THE JOURNAL SYSTEM OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS IS A LITTLE BIT -- JUDICIAL SYSTEM OVER THE NUMBER OF YEARS IS A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT'S SHAPED IN A WAY THAT'S TRYING TO HELP HIM WIN AN ELECTION.

THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE PROFOUND AND REAL WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE ISSUES THAT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE -- WITH TRUMP ARE BECAUSE OF ISSUES THAT HE HAS DONE DIRECTLY OR THAT HE'S BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING DONE DIRECTLY.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME ON AFRICAN-AMERICANS THAT ARE DISENFRANCHISED AND PUSH FOOD IN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE YEARS.

>> SO AGAIN, THIS IS A POLL, IT'S A SNAPSHOT.

>> I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT.

>> AND WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

ARE THESE NUMBERS -- THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH SUBJECT TO CHANGE, ARE THEY NOT?

>> THEY ARE.

AND I THINK THE REAL NUMBER WILL START SHOWING UP AS YOU START TO SEE NUMBERS COME OUT IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, ET CETERA.

AND I THINK THOSE ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE -- IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CLEAR FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.

RIGHT NOW I I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ADJUSTMENT AHEAD BASED ON REALLY QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT STILL AHEAD TO DO.

>> AND LAST QUESTION QUICKLY BEFORE WE GO, SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE -- BADE BIDEN COULD LOSE THE BLACK VOTE, AND THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NOVEMBER.

YOU'RE SAYING NOT SO FAST.

>> I'M SAYING NOT SO FAST.

I AGREE THAT HE HAS CHALLENGES.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN CLEARLY SEE THAT AS WELL, WHICH IS WHY YOU SEE A DOUBLE-DOWN ON HIS EFFORTS IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING HERE IN ARIZONA.

SO I KNOW -- SO THEY DO REALIZE THAT THEY'VE GOT AN ISSUE.

I THINK WHAT THEIR CHALLENGE -- THEIR MAIN CHALLENGE IS REALLY THE MESSAGING AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE WHAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY DONE.

AND THAT IS FAR THE GREATEST ISSUE THEY HAVE.

THEY JUST HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND A WAY TO REALLY COMMUNICATE THE BENNING THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTER THAT'S GOING TO COMPEL PEOPLE TO, A, VOTE, AND NOT STAY ON THE COUCH AND NOT VOTE.

>> ALL RIGHT, KARL, ALWAYS A PLEASURE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

♪ .

>> A DANGEROUS HEAT WAVE SCORCHES THE MIDWEST AND EAST COAST.

COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

THREE ORGANIZATIONS IN TEMPE AR COMING TOGETHER TO HELP THE UNHOUSED.

THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A MORE COHESIVE AND COORDINATED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS.ED JOINING US NOW AS WE TRY TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME KATHERINE KOUVELAS-EDICK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIS FOUNDATION.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MEGAN WILSON, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS FOR THE TEMPE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY.

A LOT OF TITLES AND A LOT OF NAMES.

GOODED TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> KATHERINE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A COOLING OF RESOURCES, STREAMLINING.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.

ACTUALLY TCAA REACHED OUT TO THE AIRIS FOUNDATION AND SAID HEY, WE'VE GOT SOME OFFICE SPACE AND WE'D LOVE TO HELP AND DO YOU WANT TO COME IN AND JOIN US.

>> AND IS THAT FACILITY IS WHERE.

>> JUST OFF APACHE AND 101.

WE HAVE A FOOD PANTRY THERE, RENT UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND THEY ALSO HAVE A SHELTER.

SO WE HAVE AFTERNOONS OPEN.

WE HAVE FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

A LOT OF OUR STAFF WORK HALF DAY ON FRIDAYS AND WE SAID, HEY, THERE'S THIS SPACE THAT'S NOT GETTING USED.

IT'S GETTING HOTTER, WHEN OBVIOUSLY CAN HELP PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREETS.

>> AND THE ARIS FOUNDATION, WHAT DO YOU FOCUS ON?

>> HOMELESS OUTREACH EVENTS.

EVERY TUESDAY AT TEMPE MOUNT HEALTH CENTER WE PROVIDE BETWEEN 175 AND 200 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS CAN DINNER, CLOTHING, HYGIENE ITEMS, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE, AND RESOURCES, AS WELL.

>> HOW DOES THAT CHANGE NOW WITH THIS CORROBORATIVE.

>> IT DOESN'T.

TUESDAY NIGHTS STAYS TUESDAY NIGHTS.

HOWEVER, WHAT WE CAN DO IS NOW WE CAN SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND SAY, OKAY, MEET US ON FRIDAY, WE'LL MAKE 15 CALLS TO SEE WHAT PROGRAMS WE CAN GET YOU INTO.

>> AND FOR THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, HOW DOES WHAT YOU DO CHANGE NOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME MORE FOLKS COMING IN?

>> YEAH.

WE DEFINITELY INCREASE THE TRAFFIC, WHICH HELPS US, TOO, BECAUSE WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE ON THE SHELTER, MORE PEOPLE INTO SINGLE HOUSING AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUR SERVICES OUT THERE, AS WELL, SO WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP THAT'S BEEN GREAT.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR SERVICES.

>> WE DO RENT UTILITY ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE A FOOD PANTRY, WE HAVE MEALS ON WHEELS FOR SENIORS AND ALSO HAVE A 40-PERSON SHELTER THAT WILL MOVE EVERY EVENING IT THAT WE HAVE CHURCH PARTNERS THAT HOST US.

>> INTERESTING.

AND AGAIN TO GET ALL OF THIS COMBINED TOGETHER, IT HELPS I IMAGINE WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, IT HELPS WITH INDIVIDUALS, IT HELPS WITH HEAT, MITIGATION, THE WHOLE 9 YARDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FRIDAYS ARE MAGICAL.

THEY REALLY ARE.

SO TUESDAY IS REALLY GETTING THEM INTO -- IF THEY COME TO US AND SAY HELP, IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO ON TUESDAY.

WE'RE OUT IN THE PARKING LOT.

WE DON'T HAVE LAPTOPS OUT THERE BUT WE CAN SAY, HEY, COME SEE US ON FRIDAY AND WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT.

>> AND I WOULD IMAGINE POOLING RESOURCES WOULD HELP WITH COSTS, WOULD HELP WITH LOTS OF EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS.

>> YEAH, WE'VE ALREADY HOUSE THE 13 INDIVIDUALS TOGETHER IN THE LAST MONTH, SO THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE IMPACT.

>> VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, AS WELL.

I MEAN, STAFF COORDINATION, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, ALL IT.

>> YEP.

EVERYTHING.

IT'S BEEN GREAT, AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT COME IN FROM ARIS AND COME IN THE AFTERNOON AND HELP WITH THAT PROCESS, AND THEY'RE GETTING READY TO KNOW OUR PROGRAMS MORE AND HELPING IN OUR SHELTERS AS WE NEED.

>> SO A POOLING OF RESOURCES AT A FACILITY, EVERYONE'S GETTING TOGETHER AND HELPING PEOPLE OUT FOR FOLKS THAT CAN GET THERE AND GET THESE SERVICES.

HOW DO FOLKS GET THERE?

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING AROUND.

>> THEY DO A LOT OF WALKING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BIKES OR SKATEBOARDS.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT'S THE LIGHT RAIL.

IT'S THE BUS SYSTEM.

THAT'S HOW THEY APPROACH.

BUT WE MAKE SURE THEY COOL OFF IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY GET IN THE BUILDING.

>> ICE PACKS, HYGIENE, STUFF, ALL OF THAT IS INCLUDED AS WELL.

>> ALL THAT IS INCLUDED.

THEY CAN COME IN AND WE LOAD THEM UP.

>> ONCE YOU LOAD THEM UP, HOW CAN YOU HELP THEM GET OFF OF THIS PARTICULAR PATH?

BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO HELP THESE FOLKS, BUT THEY ALSO DON'T WANT TO ENABLE THESE FOLKS.

SO HOW DO YOU SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF POKES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN -- SOMETIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GO TO DETOX.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE READY FOR SHELTER.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE EVEN MAYBE AT A SPACE WHERE THEY HAVE EMPLOYMENT AND THEY'RE READY, AND WE CAN HELP THEM WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO GET THEM INTO THEIR APARTMENT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES AT PLAY.

THEY CAN MEET WITH OUR STAFF, ARIS' STAFF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST PATH FOR THEM WHEN THEY WALK IN.

>> AND AS FAR AS THE TIME FRAME FOR ALL OF THIS.

IT'S ALREADY BEGUN?

>> YES.

>> AND IT STARTED WHEN?

>> WHAT ARE WE SIX WEEKS IN NOW YES.

>> AND YOU'RE SEEING CHANGES, YOU'RE SEEING IMPROVEMENTS?

>> WE ARE.

IT'S BEEN FABULOUS BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE -- THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HELPED SO FAR ARE YOUNG FAMILIES.

SO WE'VE GOT MOM AND DAD WITH A COUPLE KIDS WHO WILL LITERALLY BE ON THE STREETS FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND BECAUSE DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE INTO PROGRAMS OVER THE WEEKEND UNLESS WE INTERVENE.

>> LAST QUESTION ON THIS, THE CONCEPT OF TRUST WITH FOLKS THAT ARE UNSHELTERED.

>> HUGE.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> IT'S MAJOR.

AND I THINK THAT'S HELPED US A LOT IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ARIS STREET OUTREACH.

THEY CREATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEN THEY CAN SAY WE TRUST THIS AGENCY.

COME MEET US HALFWAY, AND THEN WE CAN STEP IN AND HELP THEM.

>> IT'S A MAGICAL GATEWAY.

IT REALLY IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, KATHERINE AND MEGAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE EFFORT, CONTINUED SUCCESS THROUGHOUT IN TEMPE AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> I'M TED SIMONS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.