Arizonans want action on homelessness, and in Scottsdale, it’s now a priority

We’ve all witnessed the rise of homelessness throughout Maricopa County. We all watched the national headlines covering the “Zone,” in downtown Phoenix being cleared. We all knew that compassion never came from allowing our fellow men and women to live on the street, and we knew that when the Zone was cleared, the problem would not simply go away.  

Over the last five years, the number of chronically homeless individuals in Maricopa County increased by an astronomical 119 percent, according to a recent study by the Common Sense Institute.This data point illustrates the reality that those of us who call Arizona home already know—too many in our community are struggling with addiction and mental illness, with homelessness as a result. This heartbreaking crisis is a clarion call to compassionate and thoughtful action. 

In November, I was honored to be elected to the Scottsdale City Council. Finding solutions is not just a priority, it is a necessity—and I am taking action with my new colleagues. 

First, Scottsdale is ending the previous Council’s homelessness hoteling policies, which posed significant community and public safety concerns. 

Second, we’ve established a task force to help ensure our city complies with the voter-approved Proposition 312 measure, passed by more than 60 percent of Arizonans last fall. This law allows property owners to collect rebates on their taxes when cities fail to remove encampments or clean up refuse and human waste that endangers those who live in and around them.

Third, we are working with both governmental and private organizations to ensure we approach both cyclical and systemic homeless populations, including providing critical protections for women and children, in ways that provide compassionate care that breaks individuals free from cycles of abuse, provides critical healthcare, reduces dependency and springboards our brothers and sisters into a stable, safe and prosperous life.

Arizonans have spoken, and the message is clear: It’s time for action on the homelessness crisis. And in Scottsdale, we are taking the lead with common-sense reforms.

On so many issues these days, Americans and Arizonans are divided. Caring for those who need help the most, however, unites us all.

A new statewide survey released by the Cicero Institute paints a vivid picture of public dissatisfaction with the status quo and a broad desire for results-driven policies that emphasize recovery, public safety, and accountability.

The data is compelling, and Arizonans want both compassion and accountability. A sweeping 83 percent of Arizona voters support empowering courts to direct homeless individuals with severe mental illness or addiction into treatment facilities.

A large majority — 60 percent — also agree that homeless encampments pose risks to those who live or work nearby. It’s no surprise, then, that more than three-quarters of Arizonans support clearing encampments from sidewalks and other publicly shared areas. This is not a call for cruelty or neglect; it is a demand for policies that prioritize both the needs of the homeless and the communities in which they live.

The public safety crisis has reached a point where it is impacting our local economy. Nearly 75 percent of voters say they avoid shopping areas, parks, or other public spaces due to the presence of homeless encampments. This is not a viable situation for our small business owners whose customers are shopping elsewhere rather than risk their own safety.

Scottsdale residents, like those all across Arizona, are not asking for superficial fixes. We want meaningful policies that address real problems, such as creating drug-free zones around homeless service facilities to ensure vulnerable people have a secure space to pursue wellness. And we agree that taxpayer-funded homeless service providers should be audited to determine whether their programs are truly helping those they serve to achieve lasting change.

We want transparency and accountability from those who claim to have their homeless neighbors’ best interests at heart—values that resonate across party lines.

This demands compassionate but effective solutions that address the root causes of homelessness—namely, mental illness and addiction.

Elected leaders must take note. Homelessness is not a partisan issue; it’s a humanitarian issue that touches every corner of our state. By focusing on policies that balance compassion with accountability, our city can set an example for leaders around the state — and nation.

The time to act is now.

Adam Kwasman began his first term on the Scottsdale City Council in January 2025.