Community Collaborative

The Westward Ho was originally opened in 1928 as one of Phoenix’s first luxury hotels, serving as a social and cultural landmark in downtown Phoenix. Over time, as the city grew and needs shifted, the building transitioned from a hotel into permanent supportive housing.

Today, the Westward Ho provides affordable housing primarily for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income residents. Many residents experience complex challenges, including fixed incomes, chronic health conditions, social isolation, and limited access to resources. The building now functions as a residential community that prioritizes stability, safety, and access to supportive services.

The Community Collaborative is a service of the School of Social Work, part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University.

Practice within the Collaborative emphasizes a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach, recognizing the complex intersections of aging, health disparities, poverty, and social marginalization. Social workers work collaboratively with clients to promote autonomy while providing support and advocacy within ethical and agency guidelines. Through partnerships with local organizations and ongoing supervision, the ASU Community Collaborative creates a supportive environment that fosters connection, empowerment, and improved quality of life.

• Case Management services - Providing community assistance and referrals to help residents better access the assistance they qualify for.
• Mental Health Counseling - Counseling services are available to individuals facing a mental health challenge.
• Assistance with Technology - Accessing technology is a priority in an age when so much is done online. Students and faculty work to ensure that residents have access to this resource and aid residents in using it. Examples include using computers to access health insurance, personal records, and medical appointments online or by telephone, as well as to access welfare programs, such as the Lifeline Assistance program.
• Educational and cultural enrichment opportunities - Examples include lunch-and-learns to discuss topics such as eviction prevention, resident safety, financial literacy and residents’ rights.
• Social connection - Programming runs throughout the week to increase residents' social connection and well-being, including social interactions, games, art, puzzles, and music. 

There is a saying that ‘We are what we eat’. Nutrition is vital to health and nutrition students from ASU’s College of Health Solutions work to bring educational programs to residents that encompass interventions to some of our nation’s biggest health challenges. By helping residents eat nutritious meals, nutrition students work to improve the lives of the residents of the Westward Ho.

• Nutritional education programs - Vital to a healthy lifestyle, nutrition students offer education on healthy eating