City workers in Phoenix finally began evicting the massive homeless encampment called “The Zone” on Wednesday, despite a city official confirming there is not enough space in public housing for the people being relocated.
A local charity for the homeless said about 740 people were still living in the zone as of Tuesday night, some of whom had already moved out ahead of the cleanup.
However, only 35 beds are available in city shelters, the Phoenix New Times reports. Many residents of the zone have said they’ve heard hotel rooms booked for them, but most are afraid they’ll have to roam the streets.
The zone, which is seven blocks long and five blocks wide, is just steps from the state capital building and Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium.
The move to clean up the camp comes after a judge ruled in March after business owners with premises near the camp filed a lawsuit against the city demanding the camp be closed. The city still plans to appeal the verdict.
Demolition of the largest homeless camp in Phoenix began on Wednesday
Crime scene footage showed tents and rubbish strewn across city streets as activists attempted to move homeless people to shelters and hotel rooms
At least one city official admitted he didn’t know what to do with most of the residents in the area known as “The Zone.”
The cleanup began Wednesday at 7 a.m. local time. Officials have until July 10 to present “significant findings” on the site’s removal.
Officials said they have beds available for everyone being relocated today, about 35 to 40 people, NBC Phoenix reports. These beds are distributed among shelters and hotels around the city.
Speaking to the media, Assistant Director of the Office of Homeless Solutions in Phoenix, Scott Hall, admitted there were enough beds for the zone’s 700 other residents.
Earlier officials said they plan to add 800 additional beds in city shelters by 2024.
Less than two hours after the cleanup began, AZ Central reported that “stacks of tents, clothing, bedding, wooden planks and shipping containers were still flooding the sidewalks.”
After people have left, city trucks and street sweepers will arrive to clean up the remaining trash. According to the AZ Central report, no police officers were initially present during the clean-up work.
Once the police were called when an object was found in a tent. The AZ Central report said officials did not say whether the find was an airgun or a real gun.
Two residents, Barry Hayes and Daniel Mackey, told the newspaper they would accept hotel rooms if they were offered them. Otherwise, the two said they would simply move to another part of the zone.
Two residents, Barry Hayes and Daniel Mackey, told AZ Central they would accept hotel rooms if they were offered them. Otherwise, the two said they would simply move to another part of the zone
KTAR’s Taylor Kinnerup reported that a man could be heard yelling at city employees, “You didn’t do that much shit then, and you won’t do it now.”
While a man and his girlfriend, NBC Phoenix’s Bianca Buono, said they “couldn’t stop smiling” as they loaded their stuff into the car and headed to a hotel
KTAR’s Taylor Kinnerup reported a man was heard yelling at city officials, “You didn’t do that much shit then, and you won’t do it now.”
While a man and his girlfriend talked NBC Phoenix’s Bianca Buono that they “couldn’t stop smiling” as they loaded their stuff into the car and drove to a hotel.
The block cleared on Wednesday only became part of the zone in 2023. The number of residents in the area has continued to increase since the Covid-19 pandemic. At its peak, the space was home to around 2,000 people.
The city’s Democratic Mayor, Kate Gallego, said in April she was “in spirit” in agreement with the demolition of the camp. In March, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would ban the setting up of tents in public places.
AZ Central previously reported that many of the people living there use drugs and/or suffer from serious mental illnesses.
One resident, Shina Sepulveda, told the New York Times that living in the area is not “living.” It’s an existence.’
The CEO of community bridges, a homeless charity, said her organization will provide shelter and hotel rooms for displaced people.
The camp will be dismantled block by block. If people are deported, they are not allowed to return, otherwise they face criminal charges.
According to the lawsuit, the city should not have tents on public land, and biohazardous materials such as drugs, trash and human waste should be collected
The demolition of the camp begins Wednesday and will be done block by block
Up to 2,000 people call The Zone home, and the number of homeless people in Phoenix has grown from 700 to over 3,000 in less than ten years
Last month, the city’s Democratic Mayor Kate Gallego said she “agreed in spirit” that the camp should be moved
In an interview with KSAT in April, Mayor Gallego said her office is still looking for solutions to the homelessness problem
In an interview with KSAT in April, Mayor Gallego said her office is still looking for solutions to the homelessness problem.
“We’ve been working with my colleagues to bring seven new investments online that will help get people out of the zone and into better housing.” This includes partnerships with nonprofits like The Salvation Army, UMom and CBI, who are in all parts of Phoenix,” the mayor said.
A couple who are suing the city to get the camp moved, Joe and Debbie Faillace, said they regularly found feces and drug paraphernalia outside of the sandwich shop they had operated in the area for 30 years.
“There is utter lawlessness and it’s only getting worse.” We want our neighborhood back. “We want to feel safe,” Debbie told the network. The number of homeless people in Phoenix has increased from 771 in 2014 to 3,096 in 2022.
A lawyer told CNN she was concerned others might follow Phoenix’s lawsuit.
“We know that the only way to actually address this problem and homelessness is through affordable housing and the services people want and need to get housing,” said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Another resident, Rayann Denny, told CNN that she will not be moving into city housing because of her drug use.
“I’m just trying to keep myself high so I don’t struggle with the pain,” said the 37-year-old.
Denny said that after her husband died, she was left homeless and unable to pay the bills.
While another, Stefanie Powell, said she doesn’t know where she and her boyfriend will end up.
“I don’t want to have to walk the streets again.” It’s difficult because nobody wants to see the problem. Nobody wants to admit the problem. “They just want it to go away,” Powell told CNN.
According to the lawsuit, the city should not have tents on public land, and biohazardous materials such as drugs, trash and human waste should be collected.
Lawyers for the business owners said Phoenix has allowed homeless people to set up permanent tent camps on public sidewalks and reduced prosecutions for loitering, drunkenness and misdemeanor violations, and drug use, among other things.
Kristin Couturier, a city spokeswoman, said in March that officials were reviewing the court’s verdict.
“We remain committed to serving the needs of all residents and property owners,” Couturier said in a statement Monday.
“We continue to work with local and regional partners to address the complex issues surrounding the homeless and connect those in need with safe indoor spaces and resources to help them end their homelessness.”