The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been supplying beds to the homeless population in Phoenix, focusing on cleaning up the streets as the number of tents in the area grow.

The nonprofit, with its Phoenix Dining Room on the Human Services Campus (HSC), sent a request to the city council to approve a zoning change that would give them room for 375 more beds, a release issued on the Society's website said. If approved, it would let the organization house a total of 575 beds.

The St. Vincent de Paul shelter is overflowing with homeless people seeking shelter, which is why the organization is housing people in tents and looking for more bed space. Not only that, but the organization is trying to shift people into permanent housing.

"What we’re advocating for is simply bringing people inside, out of alleys, offering them a bit more dignity and connection to resources while at the same time offering a public health and public safety solution for the neighbors," Jessica Berg, St. Vincent de Paul chief program officer, said in the release. "With permission to increase bed capacity, we would have room for most of the folks who are currently in tents outside the campus."

But increasing the number of beds won't be attracting more homeless people to the shelter. It will be for the sole purpose to move those in tents into a real bed, which can provide more than just a place to sleep.

"A bed is so much more than just a place to sleep," Berg continued. "In the immediate, it promotes safety both for individuals and the public. When we leave people out on streets, especially in extreme weather, we risk losing lives. But beyond solving immediate dangers, a bed and shelter brings someone closer to housing— it’s the first step for most people."

More information on St. Vincent de Paul's goal to increase the bed capacity can be found at www.fromstreettohome.org.

"Homelessness is a community challenge, and it’s not something any one organization, individual or government can fix alone, " Berg said. "But together, we can have solutions that create a better community for us all— one where each person can sleep in a bed and hopefully in their very own home one day."