Tested, successful Scottsdale model ignored by Gress
With much fanfare, on Sept. 13, state Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, choreographed a committee hearing at the Scottsdale Civic Library, which Gress characterized as an “Ongoing Fight Against Scottsdale’s Taxpayer Funded Homeless Hotel Plan.”
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[...]
Q&A with Governor Katie Hobbs
In her first legislative session as governor, Katie Hobbs had to navigate a sharply divided Legislature, at times working closely with Republican leadership while also facing attempts by GOP lawmakers to thwart her agenda.
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.
Hobbs picked abortion support over vulnerable women
In January, Gov. Katie Hobbs threatened to line-item veto programs to support homeless pregnant women – and she got her wish last month, signing a $17.8 billion budget that had no room for programs that have served the most vulnerable Arizonans for years.
White House vows more federal aid to reduce homelessness in 5 cities and California
Five major U.S. cities, including Phoenix, and the state of California will receive federal help to get unsheltered residents into permanent housing under a new plan launched Thursday as part of the Biden administration's larger goal to reduce homelessness 25% by 2025.
City and state leaders can tackle affordable housing crisis together
In recent years, I’ve been quoted as saying, homelessness is not AN issue, it is THE issue. I encourage our legislators to partner with local community leaders to turn this around before it’s too late.
Hobbs vetoes vaccine religious exemption, homeless visibility bills
Gov. Katie Hobbs added to her veto tally Thursday, rejecting two more measures approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Judge orders Phoenix to clean out ‘the Zone’ homeless site
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ordered the City of Phoenix to clean out “the Zone” homeless encampment downtown.
Senate passes bipartisan homelessness mitigation measure
The Senate passed a homelessness mitigation bill today with overwhelming support, much to the happiness of sponsor Sen. Catherine Miranda, D-Laveen, who has made this her main effort.
Hospitality, tourism, sports industries fight human trafficking
It’s a Penalty, an organization working to prevent abuse, human trafficking and exploitation worldwide, campaigns around major sporting events year-round with the goal of eradicating exploitation, abuse and human trafficking by 2030. That organization, as well as the tourism, sporting and hospitality industries are working together to fight human trafficking ahead of Super Bowl LVII.