ARIZONA NEWS

What’s next for those who were living in The Zone homeless encampment in Phoenix?

Nov 6, 2023, 11:00 AM | Updated: 11:05 am

man holds his dog inside a Phoenix cooling center...

As the last of the individuals who were living in "The Zone" homeless encampment in downtown Phoenix were connected to services or placed in temporary housing in early November 2023, some wonder if their new path will be sustainable. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — Almost a week after Phoenix city officials cleared out the homeless encampment in downtown Phoenix known as “The Zone,” the streets are empty, the unsheltered have been housed and court orders have been met.

But it begs the question: Will this new, multifaceted approach be sustainable?

Since Phoenix officials began clearing out tents and other makeshift structures in May, at least 718 people were offered services, according to a press release. Of them, 585 (81%) accepted placement at a temporary indoor shelter.

“Our goal now is to work with those 80% that have accepted shelter, find out where they are now. Are they still in the shelter? Have they ended their homelessness? Have they returned to homelessness?” Rachel Milne, Office of Homeless Solutions director, said in a Facebook post Friday.

At least 21 others opted to move to the Safe Outdoor Space, where individuals who aren’t ready to move indoors can stay. Individuals with certain “barriers,” such as pets, chose to stay at the site, Milne said. The remaining others went elsewhere.

“We need to really focus on those 20% who did not accept shelter services right now. We still want to work for them, we want to find the solution that’s best for them,” Milne said.

The city increased its efforts to find unsheltered individuals housing after a Maricopa County judge ordered a complete clean-up of The Zone in October. To combat the affordable housing issue, Phoenix and its partners in that month alone added 362 temporary shelter beds, while it prepared to supply 790 new shelter beds.

Moving forward, what will “The Zone” look like?

With the area being completely cleared, city officials may need to occasionally enforce the rules.

If individuals are found camping on the streets, they’ll either be connected to proper services or cited/arrested.

“Obviously we want to maintain this area. We’ve worked really hard to close it down, but homelessness is not just contained to the area around the Human Services campus,” Milne said.

“It’s city-wide, it’s region-wide, so we really need to address homelessness where it is and help people throughout the areas of the city connect with the services that are going to help them end their homelessness.”

As for individuals staying in temporary shelter beds and at the Safe Outdoor Space, the city will continue working to getting them onto a path to ending their homelessness.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Balin Overstolz-McNair contributed to this story.

We want to hear from you.

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

Arizona News

Emma Stone receives a 5-timers robe from SNL veterans Tina Fey and Candice Bergen. (YouTube screens...

KTAR.com

Arizona-native Emma Stone hosts SNL for 5th time, joining exclusive club

Arizona native Emma Stone was joined by Tina Fey and Candice Bergen who welcomed her to the illustrious five-timers club for hosting Saturday Night Live.

1 hour ago

Fountain Hills native Nicholas Hambruch was announced as lead for the new "Shrek the Musical" comin...

David Veenstra

Valley native cast as lead of new touring version of ‘Shrek’ musical

An all-new version of "Shrek the Musical" with Fountain Hills native Nicholas Hambruch starring as Shrek is coming to Phoenix in March.

4 hours ago

Rendering of Verrado Marketplace, which will total 500,000 square feet with a host of retailers, re...

Audrey Jensen/Phoenix Business Journal

Target among major tenants announced for Verrado Marketplace in Buckeye

Target, Safeway and a Harkins BackLot entertainment complex will be the anchor tenants for the planned Verrado Marketplace in Buckeye.

5 hours ago

(AP File Photo)...

KTAR.com

Northbound lanes on Interstate 17 near Black Canyon City reopen after crash

A crash closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 17 near Black Canyon City. ADOT advised motorists to seek an alternate route.

16 hours ago

mugshot of Street after he turned himself in at the Casa Grande facility and image of teenage Haile...

KTAR.com

2 more people arrested in connection to Casa Grande teen’s death

Two more people, both juveniles, have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a teenage girl on Nov. 26. 

18 hours ago

Police said that the teen admitted to detectives that he sent the bomb threat message. (Facebook Ph...

KTAR.com

Casa Grande teen arrested for allegedly sending bomb threat to Ottawa University in Surprise

A 17-year-old from Casa Grande was arrested Thursday after allegedly sending a bomb threat to Ottawa University's Arizona campus in Surprise.

20 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Follow @KTAR923...

West Hunsaker at Morris Hall supports Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona

KTAR's Community Spotlight this month focuses on Morris Hall and its commitment to supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University: innovating Arizona health care education

Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus near Loop 101 and 59th Avenue is an established leader in health care education and one of Arizona’s largest and most valuable health care resources.

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Importance of AC maintenance after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

An air conditioning unit in Phoenix is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat.

What’s next for those who were living in The Zone homeless encampment in Phoenix?