By Staff Reporter |
The city of Phoenix has rezoned more than five acres to continue legalized camping for the homeless.
The city council unanimously approved the zoning amendment during its formal meeting on September 9. The space costs approximately $4.8 million a year to operate.
The city’s legalized camping area for the homeless is its safe outdoor space. The campground is operated by Keys to Change, a 24-hour operator, and Community Bridges Inc., which provides case management on site seven days a week.
The safe outdoor space provides a maximum of 200 camping spaces and can accommodate a maximum of 300 individuals.
The property is fenced in and provides shade for camping spaces; restrooms and showers; supportive services such as case management; on-site security 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and trash and recycling.
Homeless individuals camping within the safe outdoor space may not use drugs, consume alcohol, or start fires on the property.
Surrounding businesses may email Keys to Change to notify of any potential issues.
According to the Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) Director Rachel Milne, the city employs five behavioral health technicians through Community Bridges and brings in outside partners like Circle the City, which provides medical and behavioral health services twice a week, to serve the safe outdoor space.
Milne reported that there are 56 shelters and transitional housing projects in the Phoenix area as of the 2026 Point in Time Count. The city owns three of those 56.
Councilwoman Anna Hernandez said that safe outdoors spaces were a vital housing option for Phoenix residents and a necessary response to reduced funding under the Trump administration.
“We are not perfect in how this space has been maintained. There are always improvements that can happen and need to happen,” said Hernandez. “Two things can be true at the same time, that we have done amazing work in this space, but also that there’s always a need to continue to improve that. So I do believe that we can hold these two things together, especially in a time where we are seeing our federal administration cut funding for housing and homeless services.”
Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington commended OHS staff for innovating on the safe outdoor spaces as a solution for homelessness.
“They have always heeded the opportunity to grow and learn from the residents’ concerns. I think this definitely shows this is a partnership between the residents and the Office of Homeless Solutions,” said Hodge Washington.
OHS reported that, on average, the homeless stay for 100 days at the campground. Margaret Adams, OHS special projects administrator, told KTAR that the safe outdoor space has served more than 2,500 homeless individuals since its opening in late 2023.
Based on the $4.8 million spent last year, that would mean that it costs the city around $5,700 on average to provide services to each homeless individual at the safe outdoor space.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
