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Cities crack down on homeless encampments. Advocates say that’s not the answer
Tent encampments have long been a fixture of West Coast cities, but are now spreading across the U.S. The federal count of homeless people reached 580,000 last year, driven by lack of affordable housing, a pandemic that economically wrecked households, and lack of access to mental health and addiction treatment.
Business owners hopeful as Phoenix meets deadline to clean up ‘The Zone’
The city of Phoenix has met a court-ordered Nov. 4 deadline to remove all tents and makeshift structures from the area around the Human Services Campus known as “The Zone,” and business owners in the area are hopeful.
Judge denies Phoenix’s request to suspend order to clear out homeless encampment
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge denied the City of Phoenix’s request to suspend the order requiring the city to clear out the homeless camp “the Zone” by the beginning of November while the city appeals.
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.
Arizona housing affordability reform is about to have its moment
Sometimes a political logjam that hasn’t budged for years suddenly bursts open. Change that seemed impossible suddenly seems inevitable. On the issue of housing costs, that time is upon us.
ACLU sues Phoenix over homeless ‘sweeps’
Frank Urban and Faith Kearns, who used to be unsheltered, are co-plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Fund for Empowerment against the city of Phoenix, alleging constitutional violations and municipal liability for alleged “sweeps,” subsequent seizure of property and the use of city statutes, “criminalizing homelessness.”
ACLU sues city of Phoenix to stop sweeps of homeless camp
The ACLU of Arizona says it is suing the city of Phoenix in order to block resumed sweeps of a huge homeless encampment downtown that they say has displaced people and destroyed identification documents, prescription medications and other belongings.
