There has been some controversy recently over Scottsdale’s plan to house homeless in a local hotel. Critics charge that Scottsdale was not “clear” about its intentions and did not receive resident input.

The problem is that if you are clear, the kettle will be stirred and every excuse will be used to try and prevent a housing plan for these folks because no one wants them in their backyard. Easier to make a donation to a charity and feel good. You did something. Apparently some are annoyed that three rooms will be used to house people from the “Zone.”

Correct me if I am wrong but Phoenix was ordered to clean up the Zone and move those people out. The notion that those folks are Phoenix’s homeless and therefore their responsibility is interesting. Homeless don’t call any one city home. They are nomads, pushed from one city to the next. Refugees.

We don’t want them in tents, zones, on the street or in our city. So, how do you solve the homeless problem? Shoot them? A Tempe police officer told me that it would take a collaborative effort on the part of ALL cities to solve the problem.

I would say, that I hope we help our homeless, vets, elderly before migrants. I would also expect that the potential hotel “guests” will be screened for criminal histories etc. Mesa is also using a hotel to house folks. A former Ramada Hotel located near the Scottsdale-Tempe border is being used for a rehab facility for members of SRPMIC and I hear no one complaining about that.

The need is great and the number of rooms is a drop in the bucket. I would also hope that folks who are fortunate enough to get a room would be seeking employment, vocational training, something that demonstrates their desire to become self sufficient.

I often chat with homeless who seem approachable. An older gentleman shared with me recently that he grew up in this area, fell on hard times and ended up on the street. He was having a good day and told me a church had provided a really nice lunch. It was 112 that day. He wants a job but says looking for work when you are out in this heat all day is difficult.

Just having a temporary roof over my head would allow me to focus on moving forward rather than just day to day survival. No matter what you do there will always be critics. Typically I am proud to be one of them but we need to take a step forward. Otherwise, have any of you visited San Francisco lately?

Lisa Haskell
Scottsdale