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Title:
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Consideration of Citizen Petition Related to Emergency and Long-Term Needs Related to Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
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Title
Consideration of Citizen Petition Related to Emergency and Long-Term Needs Related to Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
Description
This report provides the Land Use and Livability Subcommittee with information in response to a citizen petition submitted by Ms. Angela Ojile with the Madison Pioneers Coalition on Feb. 19, 2020 regarding emergency and long-term needs related to individuals experiencing homelessness and mitigating illegal activity in the area within and bounded by Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the south, 7th Avenue to the east and 17th Avenue to the west (Attachment A).
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
The petitioner requests the City Council to take action to address the following:
Address immediate and long-term sanitation and health risks.
Provide housing or a safe place for the large number of homeless living in encampments that make it unsafe to walk the streets in the area.
Mitigate illegal activity in the area that make it unsafe to live, walk the streets, work, or visit the area.
On Feb. 3, 2020, the Public Works Department increased its services by providing four, 8-yard containers adjacent to the Human Services Campus for waste disposal. These containers are serviced five days per week, Monday through Friday. In addition to the waste disposal containers, the Street Transportation Department provides cleaning services to the area twice per week. The cleanings include gathering, picking-up and disposal of large amounts of debris and trash (clothes, food, boxes, pallets, furniture, wood and metal scraps).
The Phoenix Police Department currently has two dedicated officers per shift assigned to the area providing coverage between 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week. These officers are responsible for leading with services for individuals experiencing homelessness, addressing any observed criminal activity, as well as responding to calls for service. Additionally, the City of Phoenix recently added "No Trespassing" signs to easements in the general area around the Human Services Campus to assist with enforcing trespassing issues.
The Human Services Campus is responsible for the enacting and enforcing of its own polices and rules on their property, including when to suspend an individual from services provided on the campus. Under the current statutes, if an individual chooses to remain in the area around the Human Services Campus, the Police Department is unable to remove or trespass someone from a public space if the individual has a lawful right to be there.
On March 4, 2020, City Council directed staff to develop an enhanced strategy to further efforts to address homelessness in Phoenix by June 1, 2020. Development of this enhanced strategy is separate from the proposed Human Services Campus Zoning Application Z-SP-2-19-7 which is under consideration.
On April 21, 2020, in response to COVID-19, City Council approved a homelessness and social services strategy to mitigate the impact this epidemic could have on individuals experiencing homelessness. That strategy included allocating funding and housing vouchers to provide the following services:
Vulnerable/At Risk Individuals (seniors) - Emergency Shelter (hotel), Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing
Families - Emergency Shelter Expansion and Rapid Rehousing
Single Women - Rapid Rehousing, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing
Single Men - Rapid Rehousing, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing
Youth - Case Management and Shelter Janitorial Assistance
This COVID-19 homeless strategy is targeted to assist 200 families and 555 individuals.
Location
Washington Street to the north, Grant Street to the south, 7th Avenue to the east and 17th Avenue to the west.
Council District: 7
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Deanna Jonovich and Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. and the Human Services, Law, Police, Public Works and Street Transportation departments.