On Tuesday, an appeals court upheld the decision that required the city of Phoenix to clear out the homeless encampment known as “The Zone.”
When nearby business and property owners filed suit against Phoenix, they argued the encampment created public health and safety concerns that the city was responsible for.
The resulting block-clearing and relocation efforts ended last November, when a judge ordered Phoenix to foot the plaintiffs’ legal bill for roughly $220,000.
Tuesday’s decision upheld that payment, reinforces the court's expectations for how Phoenix addresses homelessness and public safety issues, and clarifies that the city’s responsibility only extends to public property it owns or controls.
The city says this won’t affect continued efforts around the area, adding that it plans to open almost 600 new indoor shelter beds later this year and in 2025.
