Republican leaders file brief aimed at protecting lawmakers’ ability to clear homeless encampments
Republican legislative leaders are spending $15,000 to file a legal brief designed to protect the ability of state lawmakers to enact laws to clear homeless encampments and cite those who are living on the street.
Court orders Phoenix to finish clearing homeless encampment
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ordered the City of Phoenix today to clean out the entirety of the downtown homeless camp, “the Zone,” by Nov. 4 and keep the area free of tents, biohazardous materials and crime going forward.
The crisis hiding in plain sight? Advocating for 1.2+ million students facing homelessness
In 1988, about 1% of U.S. families were experiencing homelessness. Today, that number has grown to 34%. Since 2004, the number of students experiencing homelessness has risen by 63%. In a 2022 report from The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE), it was reported that 1,280,886 students experienced homelessness during the 2019-2020 school year, which represented 2.5% of all students enroll[...]
Scottsdale officials defend hotel shelter program
A Republican on the House Appropriations Committee promised on Sept. 13 that next year’s state budget would include provisions preventing municipalities from enacting hotel shelter programs similar to ones established in California and New York using state funds.
Organizations advocating for homeless residents’ rights drop lawsuit aimed at preventing ‘sweeps’
Three organizations advocating for rights for the homeless have quietly dropped their lawsuit to prevent "sweeps'' of encampments by the city of Tucson.
Scottsdale will no longer house people from ‘The Zone’ with hotel housing program
The City of Scottsdale is walking back a provision that would have sheltered people residing in a large homeless encampment in Phoenix after a Republican lawmaker’s intervention.
Q&A with Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein
Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein shared her opinions on the highlights and challenges of the 2023 legislative session.
‘Very personal project’: Repurposed shipping containers provide alternative shelter for those experiencing homelessness
Phoenix officials this week displayed the city’s first “XWing” structure – a dwelling made from converted shipping containers – intended as another solution to shelter people experiencing homelessness.
Judge mulls timeline for city to clear ‘the Zone’
The two-day bench trial over the homeless camp “the Zone” case concluded this week, leaving a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to decide whether to issue a permanent order mandating the city of Phoenix completely clean out the area within a set timeline.
Lawmaker raises concerns over Scottsdale shelter program
A Republican lawmaker representing Scottsdale is taking issue with the city’s recent approval of a near $1 million grant to provide shelter at a hotel for unhoused individuals.
Judge must decide timeline for Phoenix to clear out homeless camp
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge is now tasked with deciding the timeline for the city of Phoenix to clear out the 800 or so people living in the homeless camp, “the Zone.”
Attorneys for property owners in ‘the Zone’ ask for firm deadline for clearing out homeless residents
Attorneys for property owners in “the Zone” asked a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to set a firm deadline for the city of Phoenix to clear out the homeless population from the area, while the city asked the judge to allow the Office of Homeless Solutions to proceed at its own pace.

















