Phoenix Ordered to Sweep City’s Biggest Unhoused Community

Last Monday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney ordered Phoenix to remove people living in the Arizona city’s largest encampment of unhoused residents, reports Juliette Rihl for Arizona Republic.

The decision was the result of a lawsuit brought by local residents and businesses, who say the city hasn’t done enough to stop crime and other issues stemming from the encampment. Rihl adds, “The city is reviewing the court’s ruling and remains ‘committed to addressing the needs of all residents and property owners,’ said city spokesperson Kristin Couturier in an emailed statement.” 

According to a local police officer, the encampment is home to between 800 to 1,000 people at any given time. The city has said it will not cite people for violating public camping laws when not enough shelter is available. Judge Blaney called the situation a “humanitarian disaster” and called on the city to “create structured campgrounds for unsheltered people,” saying there is no evidence that all residents of the encampment had no other recourse. 

As homelessness grows in cities around the nation, evicting people from encampments is becoming a popular move with local officials bowing to political pressure to prevent the visual ‘blight’ of unhoused residents, but homeless advocates and critics—including a federal report—say these ‘sweeps’ are ineffective, costly, and needlessly disrupt the lives of residents.