State of Emergency:

Phoenix’s Fight to End Homelessness

Phoenix, our shared home, is facing a serious homelessness crisis impacting our streets, businesses, and families. For too long, well-intentioned but ineffective measures—like chilled drinking fountains and high-cost public toilets—have failed to address root causes, often attracting more challenges nationwide. It's time for bold, compassionate action. As your next City Council member, I'll declare a State of Emergency on homelessness on day one to mobilize resources and implement a balanced, data-driven plan. This isn't about criminalizing people in need; it's about restoring safety, providing real support, and rebuilding lives through a humane approach to issues like addiction and mental health.

My Comprehensive Homeless Rehabilitation Program (CHRP) will compassionately relocate every person experiencing homelessness into structured recovery programs—no exceptions, but with empathy and support throughout. We're done with handouts that enable addiction cycles. We're done letting NGOs prioritize profits over results. We're done allowing repeat issues to evade accountability. Phoenix will lead with strong law enforcement backed by compassionate, evidence-based rehabilitation that's tough on problems but kind to people. This is our collaborative effort for safer neighborhoods, dignity for all, and a brighter future.

The Real Problem: Addiction and Mental Health Fuel Homelessness

Let's dispel the idea that housing alone ends homelessness. While affordable housing is crucial for all Phoenicians, the core of this crisis is often drug addiction, exacerbated by cheap fentanyl accessible even to those panhandling small amounts. Our current "housing first" approach overlooks this, but we can address it head-on with education and a zero-tolerance drug policy that prioritizes recovery—bolstered by recent federal laws like the HALT Fentanyl Act (H.R. 27, signed July 16, 2025; [link]) and Arizona's Task Force SAFE (Executive Order by Gov. Hobbs, Feb. 25, 2025; [link]), which have enhanced fentanyl interdiction. CHRP tackles this directly, supports our police, and offers individuals a genuine path to reclaim their lives.

Step 1: Rapid Response Stabilization Sites—Now!

We won't delay for infrastructure. Day one, establish 1-3 Rapid Response Stabilization Sites (RRSS)—secure, supportive compounds to safely relocate individuals from sidewalks, parks, and alleys. These temporary hubs use cost-effective shelters for 100-300 people each, set up on city lots in weeks at just $5,000-10,000 per site—far cheaper than the city's current wasteful spending of nearly half a billion dollars last year on ineffective programs. To scale for our roughly 10,000 people experiencing homelessness (based on the 2025 Point-in-Time Count of 9,734 in Maricopa County), we can rapidly expand to dozens of sites, totaling under $500,000 in initial setup costs, while reallocating funds to build capacity efficiently without the bloat of ongoing bureaucracy.

Envision a secure site with organized shelters, medical area, and sign: “Phoenix CHRP: Your Path to Recovery Begins Here!” Police and 50-100 new outreach workers (more than PHX Cares' four) will conduct compassionate relocations, guiding people to RRSS for assessment. Fund by reallocating inefficient spending; pursue HUD grants for permanent CHRP centers in 12-18 months.

Step 2: Supportive Intake with Assessment

Everyone deserves a chance off the streets. Using public safety laws, citywide relocations direct individuals to RRSS for a voluntary 1-7 day supportive assessment. Trained social workers, nurses, and counselors evaluate:

• Demographics: Age, gender (separate sites for safety), families, pets.

• Health: Addictions, mental illness, disabilities (ADA-compliant, including service animals).

• Legal/Social: Criminal records, veteran status, chronic homelessness.

For undocumented individuals, provide humane support during ICE transfer. Our focus is encouragement and open doors for those committed to change; non-compliance has consequences, but support remains available.

Step 3: Pipelines Tailored for Recovery

From RRSS, guide participants into one of five CHRP pipelines, transitioning to temporary or permanent facilities. Strict rules—no drugs, no violence—ensure safety, with opportunities to rejoin after setbacks.

CHRP Pipelines:

• General/Individual

  • Who It Serves: Single adults, no major issues, with/without pets

  • Key Features: Job training, life skills, pet-friendly units

• Addictions Recovery

  • Who It Serves: Drug/alcohol addicts, including those with criminal backgrounds

  • Key Features: 14-day detox, relapse prevention

• Mental Health

  • Who It Serves: Serious mental illness, trauma, disabilities

  • Key Features: Trauma-informed therapy, medications

• Family

  • Who It Serves: Families with kids, pregnant individuals, domestic violence survivors

  • Key Features: Child care, parenting classes, safe family units

• Special Demographics

  • Who It Serves: Youth (under 18 with guardians), seniors, veterans, re-entry

  • Key Features: Legal aid, veteran benefits, youth mentoring

Step 4: Five Phases to Self-Sufficiency

CHRP is a structured 12-24 month program (average 12-18 months) with five phases, building accountability step by step. From RRSS to facilities and independent living, participants progress based on effort. [Placeholder: Embed CHRP timeline chart here.]

• Phase 1: Stabilization & Engagement (2-4 weeks): RRSS or facilities: Free meals, housing, clear rules (no drugs, curfews). Activities like pet walks foster trust. Milestone: Stable health, full compliance, goals set.

• Phase 2: Intensive Care & Skill Building (3-6 months): 0-20 hours/week work (e.g., cafeteria, landscaping). Classes: literacy, GED, trades. Required therapy; optional faith-based. Zero tolerance for violations. Milestone: 80% attendance, certifications, sobriety/medication adherence.

• Phase 3: Transition to Responsibility (3-6 months): Earn supervised outings (4-8 hours/day), part-time jobs. Semi-independent units. Build connections. Milestone: Full-time job/income, housing plan, 3 months stability.

• Phase 4: Integration & Independence (3-6 months): Roommate to solo in subsidized apartments. Subsidies taper 100% to 30% with employment. Milestone:*6 months job/housing stability, 80%+ self-sufficiency.

• Phase 5: Aftercare & Monitoring (6-12 months post-graduation): Alumni network, crisis hotline, app tracking to prevent relapse. Milestone: Sustained independence, zero returns.

Step 5: Enforcement, Accountability, and Innovation

As a Senior DevOps Engineer with 15 years in observability, data analysis, and dashboards for real-time decisions, I'll apply that to make Phoenix America's most tech-advanced city. Replace the annual volunteer-based Point-in-Time Count (often inaccurate) with 24/7 systems: sensors, apps, AI analytics for proactive responses to homelessness and safety.

• Back the Blue: Our 900 officers serve 1.7 million—that's 1 per 1,889 people, 50% worse than national average. Fentanyl arrests consume shifts; create "transport officer" roles for bookings, advocate ending no-bail for fentanyl.

• Enforce Panhandling Laws: Replace passive signs with "Panhandling is Illegal" notices, ordinances, QR codes to homelessness fund (like Chandler).

• Redirect Resources: The city wasted nearly half a billion dollars last year on homelessness, including creating the Office of Homeless Solutions (2022) with ongoing costs around $30 million. We'll eliminate it to avoid socialistic bureaucracy; instead, redirect funds to partner with private sector experts on real recovery centers focused on outcomes—we provide the high-level vision, but collaborate with proven specialists, not become them.

• Accountable Partnerships: Work only with recovery-focused NGOs/private centers. View dashboards at mattforphoenix.com showing tax impacts—no unchecked spending.

This Is Our Shared Fight

We're fighting for everyone affected by this crisis: families who deserve safe parks and streets for their kids; friends and neighbors tired of seeing loved ones struggle with addiction; business owners losing customers due to unsafe conditions; and most importantly, the people on the streets themselves, who need real pathways to stability, health, and independence. Homelessness is my top priority because Phoenix is my home. I've seen unbalanced approaches fail, like Seattle's, but what works: programs reducing chronic homelessness 70-86%, employing 60-70% of graduates, cheaper than $30,000+ per person on ER/jails. Fund CHRP with HUD/SAMHSA grants, efficient budgets. This saves businesses, cleans streets, restores hopes, and helps make Phoenix a great place to live.

Existing Laws: People often ask, It is illegal to be homeless?

Phoenix has ordinances and state statutes to maintain public safety and order. My plan enhances these fairly, focusing on enforcement with compassion:

City Codes on Homelessness:

• Prohibits sleeping on public property (Phoenix City Code § 23-48.01; link).

• Prohibits camping on public property, including shelters or tents (Phoenix City Code § 23-30; [link]). As of May 29, 2024, amended to prohibit camping within 500 feet of schools, child care facilities, shelters, or city parks with posted notices (Ordinance G-7264).

• Prohibits loitering, including park/playground access during closure and lingering around businesses (Phoenix City Code § 23-8; [link]).

City Codes on Panhandling:

• Soliciting from vehicle occupants is a class 1 misdemeanor (Phoenix City Code § 36-131.01; [link]).

• Prohibits aggressive solicitation like physical contact, within 10 feet, or following/obstructing (Phoenix City Code § 23-7; [link]).

• Prohibits panhandling in medians and traffic islands (Phoenix City Code § 36-128; [link]).

State Laws:

• Defines and prohibits loitering (Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2905; [link]).

• Defines criminal littering as a class 6 felony (Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1603; [link]).

• Defines public nuisances dangerous to public health, including urinating on sidewalks (Arizona Revised Statutes § 36-601; [link]).

These provide the tools we need; CHRP will enforce them equitably while offering pathways out of homelessness.