ARIZONA NEWS

1 block down: Phoenix starts cleanup of Zone homeless encampment

May 10, 2023, 11:15 AM | Updated: 1:16 pm

PHOENIX – Under gray skies Wednesday morning, the city of Phoenix and partner agencies started the laborious process of cleaning up the sprawling downtown-area homeless encampment known as the Zone.

The city’s plan is to move people out one block at a time with offers of shelter, clean up whatever is left behind and prevent anyone from settling back into the space. The process started around 7 a.m. on the stretch of Ninth Avenue between Washington and Jefferson streets.

Scott Hall, deputy director of the Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions, called the day’s operation a success. He estimated about 40 people had been living on the block.

“With those 40 individuals, we’ve had 33 positive outcomes so far and we’re still accumulating more as we continue to work with people,” he said. “So, it’s been a real successful endeavor.”

The reaction of people who had to relocate ranged from optimism over the attention to anger over having to leave what they consider a secure place. Some just picked up their belongings and moved to another block, while others accepted help.

“We’ve had the ability to offer everybody indoor space — shelter beds, some hotels we’ve been operating as shelters, reunification with families, treatment,” Hall told reporters while the cleanup was underway.

There are a range of reasons why some individuals reject assistance, Hall said.

“Sometimes it’s fear of things that happened in the past. Sometimes it’s mental illness or addiction issues. Sometimes it’s partner issues with their loved one,” he said.

“It’s a whole array of things, and we’ll continue to work with them and try to create different opportunities for them.”

“The Zone” refers to the area surrounding the Human Services Campus, a collaboration of partner organizations that provide services to people experiencing homelessness at 12th Avenue and Madison Street. The city has been accused of ignoring its responsibility to maintain the area and enforce laws there.

In March, the judge in a lawsuit filed on behalf of area residents and business owners ordered the city to devise a plan to clean up the Zone and carry it out as soon as possible.

Hall said the operation launched Wednesday is a collaboration with multiple partner agencies in the downtown area and throughout the Valley.

“The city is putting a lot of resources toward creating opportunities for people to get off the streets,” he said.

Piles of debris were strewn along the sides of the road where people had been living in tents and other makeshift spaces. Some of the vacated areas looked as if the roof and walls were removed from a messy living room, complete with furniture and carpeting.

“We’ll post signs and tell people that they can’t be back in this area anymore,” Hall said.

The city has programs to store property that people want to keep but can’t readily transport.

“They agree that whatever they’ve left there, they want thrown away,” he said.

An April 4 street count found 674 people living in the Zone, with 221 tents set up over about 14 blocks. There is no estimated time for when the area will be fully cleared, but it could take months.

Hall said the clean-up operation includes navigators and peer support specialists who previously were in the same situation as the people they now are helping.

“They’ve been people who’ve been on the streets themselves, who’ve gone through substance abuse issues, who’ve gone through incarceration, and now they’re doing this great work of working with people and trying to help them get on the same path that they have, and I’m very appreciative for people who’ve chosen that kind of work,” he said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup and Colton Krolak contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase....

Kevin Stone

Here’s why APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase

APS energy customers will soon see another rate increase after state regulators signed off on a proposed adjustment this week.

12 minutes ago

A man was seriously injured in a house fire in Arcadia on Friday morning...

Kevin Stone

Man pulled from Arcadia house fire, rushed to hospital with serious injuries

A man was seriously injured after a house fire broke out in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood on Friday morning.

1 hour ago

Two teens were seriously injured Thursday evening after their all-terrain vehicle ended up in a dry...

Kevin Stone

2 teens seriously injured after ATV ends up in dry Phoenix canal

Two teens were seriously injured Thursday evening after their all-terrain vehicle ended up in a dry Phoenix canal, authorities said.

2 hours ago

A new report found one-third of Arizona public grade school students are chronically absent from sc...

Balin Overstolz

Chronic absentee rate for Arizona students remains far above pre-pandemic level, study finds

A new report found one-third of Arizona public grade school students are chronically absent from school, which is double the absence rate before the pandemic.

4 hours ago

Katie Hobbs southern border...

Danny Shapiro

Arizona Gov. Hobbs says she welcomes help as more active-duty military head to southern border

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is inviting more help at the southern border as more active-duty military are set to be deployed to the state.

4 hours ago

The Phoenix Marathon is set to take place in December....

Lance Hartzler

Phoenix gets its first signature marathon in December

The Phoenix City Council approved the city's first full signature marathon, which is to include a full, half and 10-kilometer race.

4 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

1 block down: Phoenix starts cleanup of Zone homeless encampment