The city of Phoenix has cleared out its largest homeless encampment and displaced thousands of people after a court ruling declared the camp a ‘public nuisance’.
City officials successfully finished their clean-up of ‘The Zone,’ a 15-block homeless encampment near downtown, at the cost of $20 million and moved nearly 2,000 people out of the area.
The sweep comes after a judge imposed a November 4 deadline to remove tents, trash and makeshift structures and told the city to find alternative housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Some of the people who were displaced had lived in the area for years and were hesitant to leave. Still, data shows that a majority accepted the change and went straight to city housing to be reconnected with families or enter treatment programs.
City officials successfully finished their clean-up of ‘The Zone,’ a 15-block homeless encampment near downtown, at the cost of $20 million and moved nearly 2,000 people out of the area
Data shows that a majority accepted the change and went straight to city housing
The city also opened a $13 million campsite in an empty lot nearby, with shaded tent shelters, food, bathrooms and showers housing 300 people who choose to or cannot stay inside.
The process of removing the encampment was done block-by-block. People are not allowed to return and may face a criminal charge if they do.
Streets were closed a block away from where officials were working, something not done in any previous cleanup. Metal bollards and chains that were installed along sidewalks had been ripped out by city employees.
Police began to tell people living in The Zone that the area was closed and said: ‘You have to move. We already told you’.
Those who refused to leave were forcefully removed from the area, which also resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old man with a felony warrant.
The process of removing the encampment was done block-by-block. People are not allowed to return and may face a criminal charge if they do
Streets were closed a block away from where officials were working, something not done in any previous cleanup. Metal bollards and chains that were installed along sidewalks had been ripped out by city employees
Lily Bitsui, 33, told the Associated Press: ‘I was staying with a friend in a tent but he’s now gone to a shelter.’
Rachel Milne, the director of Phoenix’s Office of Homeless Solutions said: ‘This was a monumental effort. It’s a tremendous difference.’
Scott Hall, deputy director of the Office of Homeless Solutions, said shutting The Zone down has been an intense process for many of those involved, including the people who lived there and service providers who often have their own experiences with homelessness.
‘It’s an emotional roller coaster,’ Hall said during a news conference.
The court decided to uproot the camp after couple Joe and Debbie Faillace sued the city.
Those who refused to leave were forcefully removed from the area, which also resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old man who with a felony warrant
Police began to tell people living in The Zone that the area was closed and said: ‘You have to move. We already told you’
They claimed to regularly find feces and drug paraphernalia outside of the sandwich shop that they have operated in the area for 30 years.
‘There’s just a complete lawlessness, and it’s getting worse. We want our neighborhood back. We want to feel safe,’ Debbie told the network. The number of homeless people in Phoenix has risen from 771 in 2014 to 3,096 in 2022.
The business owners cited an increase in crime, drug usage in public, biohazards and break-ins.
Their lawsuit stated the city should have no tents within public property and biohazards that include drugs, trash and human waste should be picked up.
Attorneys for the business owners said Phoenix has allowed homeless people to set up permanent tent encampments on public sidewalks and decreased enforcement of loitering, drunken and disorderly conduct and drug use among other things.
According to the lawsuit, the city should have no tents within public property and biohazards that include drugs, trash and human waste should be picked up
After today, city officials will monitor the area and appear in court before the end of November to show that they have kept the area clear of structures and debris
Phoneix’s Democratic Mayor Kate Gallego said in April that she agreed with the demolition of the camp ‘in spirit.’
In March, Arizona’s liberal Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would ban people setting up tents in public spaces.
But it was only after the lawsuit was filed in March that the Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney ruled that Phoenix is maintaining a ‘public nuisance’ and city officials must show evidence at a July hearing that they’re cleaning the area.
After today, city officials will monitor the area and appear in court before the end of November to show that they have kept the area clear of structures and debris.
