Homelessness was a significant local issue in the last election, and even though there is far less of it than most other cities in America, some of the more conservative candidates used it very deftly to their advantage. A centerpiece of that was Scottsdale’s “homeless hotel”, where an old hotel was used to house a couple handfuls of homeless women … Read More
Should Scottsdale Be Forced to Notify Hotel Guests if the Homeless are Staying There Too?
Under the administration of former Mayor Dave Ortega, Scottsdale started using a small amount of vacant hotel rooms to house the homeless. More specifically, it worked with the Arizona Department of Housing and used a bit under $1 million in state funds through its “Bridge Program’, designed to be transitional housing for those who needed some help for a temporary … Read More
Phoenix and the Growing Pains of Grappling with Homelessness
Homelessness had never been a critical issue in Arizona as it grew its way into the destination it currently is until recently. A home price spike turned into a rental cost crisis, and as hard drug use rose across the country the result has been a mix of legitimately down-on-their-luck folks combined with those lost in the grips of addiction, … Read More
Homelessness in Scottsdale: How Bad Is It and What Can We Do?
Homelessness is an issue that has been evergreen around the country, in some areas worse than others. The pandemic has made this issue explode in various areas and has been felt rather acutely in Maricopa County, with an eye-popping 35% increase in people on the streets over the last two years. We would like to think that our beautiful city … Read More