Lawsuits and the U.S. Justice Department have forced Phoenix to re-evaluate how to confront the issue of homelessness.
On Wednesday, officials plan to celebrate the grand opening of an expanded shelter facility.
Phoenix created an office about two years ago to work on solutions for homelessness. An accomplishment city officials tout is adding more shelter space.
Mayor Kate Gallego and other city leaders are scheduled to mark the addition of nearly 100 shelter beds at the headquarters of UMOM New Day Centers.
City officials say Phoenix financed the transformation of office space there into rooms for families with nowhere else to live.
The Justice Department said in June that Phoenix is the first city where investigators have found abuses of the civil and constitutional rights of homeless people.
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The ordinance requires groups to get permits to provide non-emergency medical treatment in public parks and to offer food distribution events. -
Under a proposed ordinance which would take effect in June, the city of Phoenix would permit only two events for humanitarian food distribution or medical care per month in each public park. -
Keys to Change needs more than a half-million bottles of water for the summer. The organization will host water donation events monthly through September. The first event is Saturday, May 2. -
Tempe leaders from government, construction and education met recently to discuss ways to develop affordable housing. -
Phoenix’s 24/7 heat relief site opens its doors Friday. This is the third year in a row the city has operated an all-hours cooling center.
