A lawsuit ending a Phoenix tent city could become a 'model' for future anti-homeless efforts: report

In Phoenix, residents living near a homeless camp filed a lawsuit against the city on the grounds that it was a "public nuisance." Their efforts were successful; a judge ruled in their favor, and the camp — which was dubbed "The Zone" — will be removed.

Now, advocates for the homeless, according to CNN, fear that the lawsuit could become "a model for those looking to force other U.S. cities to clear similar encampments."

CNN's Gabe Cohen, in an article published on May 8, explains, "The prospect worries advocates for the unhoused, who say it simply pushes a critical problem out of public view, especially as soaring home prices and expensive borrowing have pushed households to the brink. As Phoenix officials prepare to start moving tents out of The Zone this week, they're also scrambling to create safe options for the displaced: leasing more hotel rooms and vacant buildings to convert into shelters, and building an outdoor campground with security, restrooms and hand-washing stations, the city's Office of Homeless Solutions director told CNN."

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In Phoenix, the debate over The Zone, according to Cohen, underscores "America’s increasingly polarized approach to homelessness."

Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have banned public camps like The Zone and argued that all it would have accomplished is making homelessness "less visible." But Debbie and Joe Faillace, who own a business near The Zone, believe that the camp made the area unsafe.

Debbie Faillace told CNN, "There's just a complete lawlessness, and it's getting worse. We want our neighborhood back. We want to feel safe."

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CNN's full report continues at this link.