Chandler Council takes steps to address homeless issues
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler’s neighborhood resources director, Leah Powell, said the city will still maintain a service-first, consequences-second approach with the homeless, even if urban camping and bus-stop loitering laws go into effect in July.
Chandler’s City Council gave preliminary approval the week of March 27 to a pair of measures designed to deal with homelessness issues.
By approving the consent agenda at its March 27 meeting, the council tentatively adopted two ordinances designed to help law enforcement and the courts deal with issues created by homelessness. The ordinances would become law if given final approval at an April meeting.
If approved, July 1, 2025 is the effective date for enforcement.
One ordinance adds regulations regarding urban camping. The other addresses the city’s 382 bus stops, park-and-ride and transit center and the duration and use of those facilities.
Council member Angel Encinas voted no on the bus-stop ordinance, so preliminary approval passed by a 6-1 vote. The urban camping ordinance was approved 7-0.
Leah Powell, the city’s neighborhood resources director, said the city will still maintain a service-first, consequences-second approach.
“We anticipate police and our navigators will continue to work together on this, just as they do now,” Powell said. “We have provisions in place for when and if someone is cited, including how and where to store their personal items while they’re receiving services.”
The city devoted a recent work session to the topic of doing more to ensure there are consequences for damage done by homeless people, as made more urgent by some recent high-profile court decisions and the passage of Arizona Proposition 312.
Powell said drafts of the ordinances have been shared with local organizations who deal with homelessness.
A staff report states homelessness is becoming a more significant issue nationally and across Maricopa County. Between October 2023 and September 2024, 19 new people became homeless for the first time in the county for every 10 that were housed, the report states.
In that same period, Powell reports, Chandler served more than 900 people experiencing homelessness.
The staff report also lists services available in Chandler, including 495 Housing Choice vouchers and the 251 new “affordable” multi-housing units that are under construction.
Chandler is somewhat behind on enacting urban camping and bus-stop regulations, among large Valley cities. Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria, Goodyear and Avondale have added and/or have enforcing urban camping restrictions.
The urban camping ordinance will bar:
• Using a tent, shelter, vehicle, trailer, camper, or other structure for sleeping.
• Making preparations to sleep, including laying down bedding for the purpose of sleeping
• Storing personal belongings.
• Making a fire, other than a fire made in a fire pit or barbecue pit provided by the city for such use in a designated area.
• Carrying on cooking activities, other than in a fire pit provided by the city for such use.
• Digging, earth-breaking or modifying landscaping.
Anyone who violates this new code would be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor, the report states. Criminal citations will only be written after a warning within the previous year.
People can be provided social services in lieu of criminal citation at the discretion of the citing officer, the report states.
The bus-stop ordinance prohibits:
• Remaining at the facility for more than one hour.
• Being at a transit facility when bus service is not in operation (typically 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.).
• Storing personal belongings at a transit facility (except bicycles properly stored while bus service is in operation).
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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