ARIZONA NEWS

Ex-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey: ‘Tough love’ should be part of homelessness response

Jun 15, 2023, 11:00 AM | Updated: Jun 16, 2023, 12:54 pm

PHOENIX – Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said the state can be a leader by addressing its homelessness problem with both compassion and “tough love.”

“These are, oftentimes, people that need services, they need things to be addressed,” Ducey said in an interview that aired Thursday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show. “There’s alcoholism and addiction and drugs and mental health and people that are just down on their luck for whatever reason.”

He also acknowledged that the state’s economic development has contributed to the rise in homelessness, calling it “the other edge, or the other side of the coin, of high growth and the dynamic economy.”

Ducey, who was governor for eight years before leaving office in early 2023, said the state’s role is to provide resources, but it’s primarily up to local governments to develop and implement strategies.

“There is a way to do this,” he said. “It requires some resources. It requires some tough love, and there’s a way where Arizona can be a leader on how to do this in a humane and compassionate way.”

Ducey cautioned against putting too much money into the homelessness support system, something he says has been happening in cities like Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“They have what I would call a homeless industrial complex,” he said. “Every time they get more money for homelessness, they get more homeless people.”

In Maricopa County, the number of people experiencing homelessness increased by over 70% between 2017 and 2023, according to the point-in-time census conducted by the Maricopa Association of Governments once a year.

Ducey said leaders should create policies that protect people experiencing homelessness while ensuring the safety of the public and businesses.

“They just need to act on this,” he said. “It needs to be something that can be addressed. We’ve seen how it is spread here in Phoenix.

“I don’t want to act as if it wasn’t here several years ago, but you’ve seen how different it is right now.”

We want to hear from you.

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

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

Peoria Police department...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Peoria police search for vandals who caused $30-40K worth of park damage

The Peoria Police Department is asking the public for help in finding the suspect responsible for vandalizing and causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage to a local park.

7 hours ago

Phoenix-Pittsburgh nonstop flight offered through Allegiant...

Serena O'Sullivan

Fly high: Phoenix travelers getting new nonstop flight option for Pittsburgh through Allegiant

Planning a business trip? You can now book a Phoenix-Pittsburgh nonstop flight through Allegiant at Sky Harbor International Airport.

8 hours ago

fentanyl pills, fentanyl bust Phoenix...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Phoenix man charged after police seized 100,000 fentanyl pills

A man in Phoenix was pulled over by police during a routine traffic stop, which led to the seizure of about 100,000 blue fentanyl pills.

9 hours ago

Thomas Galvin AZ Political Podcast...

Jim Sharpe

AZ Political Podcast: Thomas Galvin on public funding for sports teams, speed of election results

On this week's edition of AZ Political Podcast, Thomas Galvin discusses public funding for sports teams and how election results can be sped up.

10 hours ago

US 60 between Superior and Miami will be closed until Friday due to blasting work that was performe...

David Veenstra

US 60 between Superior, Miami reopens following blasting

US 60 between Superior and Miami has reopened following blasting work that was performed in the area.

11 hours ago

Maricopa County 1 of 4 pharmacists sentenced for fraud...

Serena O'Sullivan

Maricopa County pharmacist among 4 sentenced in fraud conspiracy

A Maricopa County pharmacist named Raef Hamaed was one of four pharmacists sentenced for their roles in a $13 million conspiracy, officials said.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

...

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.

Ex-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey: ‘Tough love’ should be part of homelessness response