WEBVTT NOTE duration:"00:17:02" NOTE recognizability:0.829 NOTE language:en-us NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.830 Hey everyone, it's Erica Stapleton with NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:01.830 --> 00:00:04.764 the 12 news I team and I want to let you NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:04.764 --> 00:00:06.800 know about our series cost of crisis. NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:06.800 --> 00:00:08.570 This all started when a frustrated NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:08.570 --> 00:00:10.607 resident in the Perry Park area of NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:10.607 --> 00:00:12.483 Central Phoenix reached out to us with NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:12.543 --> 00:00:14.438 safety concerns in the neighborhood. NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:14.440 --> 00:00:16.372 It turns out Perry Park has been NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:16.372 --> 00:00:18.145 a hotspot for Phoenix's growing NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:18.145 --> 00:00:20.340 unsheltered population and the many NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:20.340 --> 00:00:22.440 issues connected to that crisis. NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:24.462 We spent three months regularly visiting NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:24.462 --> 00:00:26.727 the park and spoke to people staying NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:26.727 --> 00:00:28.960 at the park with nowhere else to go. NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:30.857 Data backs up the need for help. NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:30.860 --> 00:00:32.510 Citywide, and this investigation takes NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:32.510 --> 00:00:35.105 a closer look at the city's response NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:35.105 --> 00:00:37.305 to homelessness and affordable housing, NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:37.310 --> 00:00:38.864 including the millions of dollars that NOTE Confidence: 0.832044752916667 00:00:38.864 --> 00:00:40.718 are supposed to be budgeted to help. NOTE Confidence: 0.958850304 00:00:45.110 --> 00:00:47.890 From the outside looking in, NOTE Confidence: 0.958850304 00:00:47.890 --> 00:00:49.710 it might seem like a small point NOTE Confidence: 0.958850304 00:00:49.710 --> 00:00:50.950 of pride because we've been NOTE Confidence: 0.958850304 00:00:50.950 --> 00:00:52.150 maintaining and keeping it clean. NOTE Confidence: 0.958850304 00:00:52.150 --> 00:00:53.640 But from the inside looking NOTE Confidence: 0.641085866 00:00:53.650 --> 00:00:55.390 out, I'll clean because he, NOTE Confidence: 0.641085866 00:00:55.390 --> 00:00:56.240 you know, he doesn't feel NOTE Confidence: 0.741678020833333 00:00:56.590 --> 00:00:59.422 Lorraine is doing all she can for the NOTE Confidence: 0.741678020833333 00:00:59.422 --> 00:01:01.908 spot she's calling home, I just put. NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:04.010 --> 00:01:06.170 The tarp propped up by shopping NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:06.170 --> 00:01:08.503 carts respite from the triple digit NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:08.503 --> 00:01:11.428 temps this July morning, a haven of NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:11.428 --> 00:01:14.410 sorts in a hell she never imagined. NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:14.410 --> 00:01:16.839 When we met Lorraine in mid-july she NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:16.839 --> 00:01:19.254 was staying on the street at Perry NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:19.254 --> 00:01:21.490 Park near 32nd St and Thomas Rd. NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:21.490 --> 00:01:24.666 A reality for many lining the park that NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:24.666 --> 00:01:27.608 morning like Lorraine's friend Robert J. NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:27.610 --> 00:01:29.214 His sister, he was sharing NOTE Confidence: 0.884998344375 00:01:29.214 --> 00:01:30.526 the same tarp space. NOTE Confidence: 0.558242490222222 00:01:30.600 --> 00:01:34.283 There's days I wake up out here the sad am NOTE Confidence: 0.558242490222222 00:01:34.283 --> 00:01:36.470 I gonna be out here when I'm 67 years old? NOTE Confidence: 0.7640288813 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:39.694 Unlike Lorraine, Roberts says he's been NOTE Confidence: 0.7640288813 00:01:39.694 --> 00:01:41.690 experiencing homelessness for years. NOTE Confidence: 0.585427975 00:01:41.850 --> 00:01:44.760 I'm only 46 and I'm trying to make it to. NOTE Confidence: 0.585427975 00:01:44.760 --> 00:01:46.326 I'm trying to make it through all the way. NOTE Confidence: 0.762369538333333 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:48.196 The latest point in time survey, NOTE Confidence: 0.762369538333333 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:51.068 from 2022, shows more than 9000 NOTE Confidence: 0.762369538333333 00:01:51.068 --> 00:01:52.502 people experiencing homelessness NOTE Confidence: 0.762369538333333 00:01:52.502 --> 00:01:55.816 in Maricopa County, up by more than NOTE Confidence: 0.762369538333333 00:01:55.816 --> 00:01:57.836 2400 since before the pandemic. NOTE Confidence: 0.762369538333333 00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:59.680 Each number a different person NOTE Confidence: 0.762369538333333 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.152 with a different story. NOTE Confidence: 0.828183706 00:02:01.170 --> 00:02:02.480 It's a very sensitive issue. NOTE Confidence: 0.779686185 00:02:04.710 --> 00:02:07.344 When COVID hit, then my landlords NOTE Confidence: 0.779686185 00:02:07.344 --> 00:02:09.919 decided not to renew my lease, NOTE Confidence: 0.779686185 00:02:09.920 --> 00:02:11.327 so they put me on the streets. NOTE Confidence: 0.845564038 00:02:11.470 --> 00:02:14.080 Each story leading to this vulnerable NOTE Confidence: 0.845564038 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.640 chapter at Perry Park nearly died. NOTE Confidence: 0.755702655555555 00:02:17.250 --> 00:02:19.455 My phone has been stolen three or four times. NOTE Confidence: 0.820839895 00:02:20.990 --> 00:02:22.658 By myself at night out here, NOTE Confidence: 0.820839895 00:02:22.660 --> 00:02:24.400 I don't sleep because I just. NOTE Confidence: 0.820839895 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:25.936 I don't. You know, I always NOTE Confidence: 0.820839895 00:02:25.936 --> 00:02:27.459 have to be watching my back. NOTE Confidence: 0.820839895 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:30.230 So during the day is when I get my rest. NOTE Confidence: 0.828128971 00:02:30.420 --> 00:02:32.388 In the past year, crime mapping NOTE Confidence: 0.828128971 00:02:32.388 --> 00:02:34.154 shows cases of drugs, shootings, NOTE Confidence: 0.828128971 00:02:34.154 --> 00:02:36.424 assaults and vandalism, safety concerns NOTE Confidence: 0.828128971 00:02:36.424 --> 00:02:39.130 that impact the whole neighborhood. NOTE Confidence: 0.880306302142857 00:02:40.970 --> 00:02:42.506 We've heard the gunshots. We've had NOTE Confidence: 0.880306302142857 00:02:42.506 --> 00:02:44.440 the shelter in the back of our house. NOTE Confidence: 0.839147376666667 00:02:44.570 --> 00:02:45.778 Morgan Saylor lives down NOTE Confidence: 0.839147376666667 00:02:45.778 --> 00:02:47.288 the road from Perry Park. NOTE Confidence: 0.833811061538462 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:48.974 We've seen people having sex up NOTE Confidence: 0.833811061538462 00:02:48.974 --> 00:02:51.140 against the side of the building here. NOTE Confidence: 0.833811061538462 00:02:51.140 --> 00:02:52.358 People passed out. NOTE Confidence: 0.833811061538462 00:02:52.358 --> 00:02:54.794 People just sitting out here smoking NOTE Confidence: 0.833811061538462 00:02:54.794 --> 00:02:57.169 meth or whatever they're smoking. NOTE Confidence: 0.889238817857143 00:02:57.230 --> 00:02:58.758 There was a time when she used to NOTE Confidence: 0.889238817857143 00:02:58.758 --> 00:03:00.279 take her child to the playground, NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:00.330 --> 00:03:02.832 not the park, but it was when I moved NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:02.832 --> 00:03:05.230 here and when she walks by now they've NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:05.230 --> 00:03:07.510 got people that are mentally ill, NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:07.510 --> 00:03:09.090 people that are on drugs. NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:09.090 --> 00:03:11.598 She feels helpless. I can't fix that. NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:11.598 --> 00:03:12.983 I I'm not qualified to. NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:12.990 --> 00:03:14.448 I don't want to bring my NOTE Confidence: 0.806239224 00:03:14.448 --> 00:03:15.780 my child here to play. NOTE Confidence: 0.836975884 00:03:15.830 --> 00:03:18.450 Her frustrations aren't without compassion. NOTE Confidence: 0.836975884 00:03:18.450 --> 00:03:20.376 She's noticed a constant cycle of NOTE Confidence: 0.836975884 00:03:20.376 --> 00:03:22.329 people who need help lining the NOTE Confidence: 0.836975884 00:03:22.329 --> 00:03:24.153 fence over the past few years. NOTE Confidence: 0.914994598571429 00:03:24.260 --> 00:03:26.780 I don't want to give the impression. NOTE Confidence: 0.914994598571429 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:29.740 That I am frustrated with the people here. NOTE Confidence: 0.914994598571429 00:03:29.740 --> 00:03:32.044 I am frustrated with the city failing us. NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:33.968 Of the more than 9000 people NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:33.968 --> 00:03:35.200 tallied to be experiencing NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:35.264 --> 00:03:37.060 homelessness in Maricopa County, NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:40.138 more than 5000 can't even get into a shelter. NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:40.140 --> 00:03:41.860 The majority of those unsheltered, NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:43.360 nearly 3100 people, NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:45.860 are concentrated in central Phoenix. NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:47.348 Shelters are often full, NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:47.348 --> 00:03:49.580 including a new 200 bed space NOTE Confidence: 0.894473202142857 00:03:49.657 --> 00:03:51.589 a few miles from Perry Park. NOTE Confidence: 0.792338791428571 00:03:51.760 --> 00:03:53.520 We're seeing the whole gamut NOTE Confidence: 0.792338791428571 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:54.928 from addiction to mental NOTE Confidence: 0.792338791428571 00:03:54.928 --> 00:03:56.760 health issues to fixed incomes. NOTE Confidence: 0.792338791428571 00:03:56.760 --> 00:03:58.248 People being priced out of the NOTE Confidence: 0.792338791428571 00:03:58.248 --> 00:03:59.560 rental markets or housing market NOTE Confidence: 0.889250837727273 00:03:59.570 --> 00:04:01.705 Scott Hall is with the city of NOTE Confidence: 0.889250837727273 00:04:01.705 --> 00:04:03.012 Phoenix's homeless Services Division NOTE Confidence: 0.889250837727273 00:04:03.012 --> 00:04:05.028 One of many city departments involved NOTE Confidence: 0.889250837727273 00:04:05.028 --> 00:04:06.940 in addressing the homeless crisis. NOTE Confidence: 0.817035327857143 00:04:06.990 --> 00:04:08.186 We're seeing everything exacerbate NOTE Confidence: 0.817035327857143 00:04:08.186 --> 00:04:09.681 the homeless issue within our NOTE Confidence: 0.817035327857143 00:04:09.681 --> 00:04:11.019 city and within the country, NOTE Confidence: 0.877915688181818 00:04:11.090 --> 00:04:13.001 he says. He's been out to Perry NOTE Confidence: 0.877915688181818 00:04:13.001 --> 00:04:14.310 Park multiple times himself, NOTE Confidence: 0.877915688181818 00:04:14.310 --> 00:04:15.726 trying to connect people NOTE Confidence: 0.877915688181818 00:04:15.726 --> 00:04:17.496 in need to city resources, NOTE Confidence: 0.877915688181818 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:19.754 even if beds aren't always an option. NOTE Confidence: 0.8366676645 00:04:19.810 --> 00:04:21.532 You know, the people there have said NOTE Confidence: 0.8366676645 00:04:21.532 --> 00:04:23.350 they feel like the city is failing NOTE Confidence: 0.8366676645 00:04:23.350 --> 00:04:24.886 when they see people camping out. NOTE Confidence: 0.8366676645 00:04:24.890 --> 00:04:26.000 How do you respond to that NOTE Confidence: 0.919610478333333 00:04:26.070 --> 00:04:27.018 at the end of the day? NOTE Confidence: 0.919610478333333 00:04:27.020 --> 00:04:28.020 We know we're failing people. NOTE Confidence: 0.919610478333333 00:04:28.020 --> 00:04:29.280 If anybody's on that street, NOTE Confidence: 0.919610478333333 00:04:29.280 --> 00:04:30.018 that's a failure. NOTE Confidence: 0.881407493333333 00:04:30.030 --> 00:04:31.318 Whenever Morgan has seen NOTE Confidence: 0.881407493333333 00:04:31.318 --> 00:04:32.928 people moved from the park, NOTE Confidence: 0.765708568 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:33.764 it gets cleaned up. NOTE Confidence: 0.765708568 00:04:33.764 --> 00:04:35.409 And then two days later or within a day. NOTE Confidence: 0.765708568 00:04:35.410 --> 00:04:36.474 I'm sure by the time you see it NOTE Confidence: 0.765708568 00:04:36.474 --> 00:04:37.660 next week, it could be completely NOTE Confidence: 0.765708568 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:38.810 different and filled up again. NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:40.564 The long term solution? NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:40.564 --> 00:04:42.800 More housing. But in the short term, NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:44.650 I see an unsanctioned homeless camp. NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:44.650 --> 00:04:46.420 A few minutes after we spoke NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:46.420 --> 00:04:47.769 with Robert and Lorraine, NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:47.770 --> 00:04:50.578 the city's Parks Department came through. NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:50.580 --> 00:04:53.065 They told us they were told to NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:53.065 --> 00:04:54.785 move Lorraine's cleaning rendered NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:54.785 --> 00:04:57.515 pointless as they start picking up. NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:04:57.520 --> 00:05:01.288 Moving a few feet away across the street, NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:05:01.290 --> 00:05:02.798 which keeps them technically NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:05:02.798 --> 00:05:04.306 off the parks property, NOTE Confidence: 0.80574449 00:05:04.310 --> 00:05:06.038 but no less unsheltered. NOTE Confidence: 0.859352184444445 00:05:06.130 --> 00:05:07.759 And I guess at the end of the day, NOTE Confidence: 0.859352184444445 00:05:07.760 --> 00:05:09.752 I'm angry at the city government NOTE Confidence: 0.859352184444445 00:05:09.752 --> 00:05:12.468 because I feel like they're failing the NOTE Confidence: 0.859352184444445 00:05:12.468 --> 00:05:14.663 residents here and they're failing. NOTE Confidence: 0.859352184444445 00:05:14.670 --> 00:05:15.640 The people in the park. NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:17.870 --> 00:05:19.410 After initially seeing and hearing NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:19.410 --> 00:05:21.750 about the need for help at Perry Park, NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:21.750 --> 00:05:23.688 we asked Phoenix City Council member NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:23.688 --> 00:05:25.649 Carlos Garcia to tour it with us. NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:25.650 --> 00:05:27.216 He agreed and said the city NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:27.216 --> 00:05:28.749 should be doing more to help, NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:28.750 --> 00:05:30.535 but the big changes needed here aren't NOTE Confidence: 0.847794473846154 00:05:30.535 --> 00:05:32.428 the ones that will happen overnight. NOTE Confidence: 0.876011966666667 00:05:33.700 --> 00:05:35.216 We used to come here a lot when my NOTE Confidence: 0.876011966666667 00:05:35.216 --> 00:05:36.820 daughter was young. Perry park. NOTE Confidence: 0.876011966666667 00:05:36.820 --> 00:05:38.328 I never felt uncomfortable. NOTE Confidence: 0.876011966666667 00:05:38.330 --> 00:05:40.586 Hasn't felt like much of a park lately. NOTE Confidence: 0.750798278444444 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:42.130 It's never like the nicest park NOTE Confidence: 0.750798278444444 00:05:42.130 --> 00:05:43.688 in the world, but I felt safe. NOTE Confidence: 0.874179008888889 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:46.062 Sure, you can see a playground and a pool. NOTE Confidence: 0.860595923333333 00:05:46.140 --> 00:05:48.228 We came here last week and my daughter NOTE Confidence: 0.860595923333333 00:05:48.228 --> 00:05:50.109 was chasing a pigeon across the park, NOTE Confidence: 0.8355772625 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:52.808 but reality rivals recreation. NOTE Confidence: 0.8957389975 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:54.236 By the time I caught up with her, NOTE Confidence: 0.8957389975 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:55.848 she was next to somebody who NOTE Confidence: 0.8957389975 00:05:55.848 --> 00:05:57.217 was smoking fentanyl with a NOTE Confidence: 0.8957389975 00:05:57.217 --> 00:05:58.417 machete right next to them. NOTE Confidence: 0.8957389975 00:05:58.420 --> 00:05:59.908 And my my heart almost stopped NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:01.985 a reality we've witnessed first NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:01.985 --> 00:06:04.050 hand visiting Perry Park ourselves. NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:04.050 --> 00:06:06.108 Near 32nd St and Thomas Rd, NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:06.110 --> 00:06:08.650 more than a dozen times since the end of May, NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:08.650 --> 00:06:11.634 signs at Perry Park, a public City Park, NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:11.634 --> 00:06:14.430 detail what's not permitted on the property, NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:14.430 --> 00:06:16.830 a long list including no camping, NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:16.830 --> 00:06:19.566 no illegal drugs, no physical abuse, NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:19.570 --> 00:06:21.710 and no using shopping carts. NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:21.710 --> 00:06:23.755 Still, our cameras witnessed some NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:23.755 --> 00:06:26.210 of those things week after week. NOTE Confidence: 0.862211958 00:06:26.210 --> 00:06:28.210 And you're just like, wow, NOTE Confidence: 0.8488205825 00:06:28.210 --> 00:06:30.440 something needs to happen for NOTE Confidence: 0.923734677272727 00:06:30.450 --> 00:06:31.780 this neighborhood. Because we have NOTE Confidence: 0.923734677272727 00:06:31.780 --> 00:06:33.620 people who are out here suffering, NOTE Confidence: 0.86357322 00:06:33.630 --> 00:06:35.394 and they have. No place to go NOTE Confidence: 0.846568592105263 00:06:35.450 --> 00:06:37.202 Morgan, Saylor and Chelsea Friday live NOTE Confidence: 0.846568592105263 00:06:37.202 --> 00:06:39.797 down the road from Perry Park and are NOTE Confidence: 0.846568592105263 00:06:39.797 --> 00:06:41.507 active in their Neighborhood Association. NOTE Confidence: 0.846568592105263 00:06:41.510 --> 00:06:43.650 Their compassion for people experiencing NOTE Confidence: 0.846568592105263 00:06:43.650 --> 00:06:46.340 homelessness also comes with a conflict NOTE Confidence: 0.80569575 00:06:46.470 --> 00:06:47.019 all of the NOTE Confidence: 0.819185466 00:06:47.030 --> 00:06:49.340 violence, all of the illegal NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:06:49.350 --> 00:06:50.802 activity that we see. NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:06:50.802 --> 00:06:53.882 The 12 news I team pulled city data NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:06:53.882 --> 00:06:56.118 from 2019 through July 2022 and NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:06:56.118 --> 00:06:57.882 found that calls for Phoenix fire NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:06:57.882 --> 00:07:00.030 to the block of Perry Park nearly NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:00.030 --> 00:07:01.950 doubled in the past two years. NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:01.950 --> 00:07:03.382 Phoenix police data showing NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:03.382 --> 00:07:04.456 a different trend. NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:04.460 --> 00:07:06.188 With a big spike of calls NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:06.188 --> 00:07:07.340 for service in 2020, NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:08.880 the calls drop after that, NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:08.880 --> 00:07:10.072 but still averaged more NOTE Confidence: 0.84548243125 00:07:10.072 --> 00:07:11.562 than one call per week. NOTE Confidence: 0.825207126909091 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:13.919 Today I actually see a bunch of kids in NOTE Confidence: 0.825207126909091 00:07:13.919 --> 00:07:16.386 the pool, which is really exciting to see. NOTE Confidence: 0.852305658181818 00:07:16.460 --> 00:07:18.828 In mid June we asked Phoenix City Council NOTE Confidence: 0.852305658181818 00:07:18.828 --> 00:07:20.462 member Carlos Garcia to walk through NOTE Confidence: 0.852305658181818 00:07:20.462 --> 00:07:22.650 the park with us to try and explain, NOTE Confidence: 0.8717109175 00:07:22.660 --> 00:07:24.606 but you obviously still see a lot NOTE Confidence: 0.8717109175 00:07:24.606 --> 00:07:26.492 of people who are staying in the NOTE Confidence: 0.8717109175 00:07:26.492 --> 00:07:28.650 park who may not have a place to NOTE Confidence: 0.8717109175 00:07:28.650 --> 00:07:30.468 live or maybe do another things. NOTE Confidence: 0.871287766 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:33.272 Despite numerous calls to police, the city NOTE Confidence: 0.871287766 00:07:33.272 --> 00:07:35.288 can't arrest someone for being homeless. NOTE Confidence: 0.905037603636364 00:07:35.390 --> 00:07:36.538 We cannot criminalize homelessness NOTE Confidence: 0.905037603636364 00:07:36.538 --> 00:07:38.680 and people that don't have a shelter, NOTE Confidence: 0.795294345 00:07:38.770 --> 00:07:40.630 and that's not what neighbors want. NOTE Confidence: 0.795294345 00:07:40.630 --> 00:07:41.798 But the increased police NOTE Confidence: 0.871983544285714 00:07:41.810 --> 00:07:44.155 and fire calls take a toll because NOTE Confidence: 0.851061075454545 00:07:44.170 --> 00:07:45.558 of the the situation. NOTE Confidence: 0.851061075454545 00:07:45.558 --> 00:07:48.030 We can't even have the bathrooms open. NOTE Confidence: 0.851061075454545 00:07:48.030 --> 00:07:50.898 And so I'd love to see not only Perry Park, NOTE Confidence: 0.851061075454545 00:07:50.898 --> 00:07:53.070 but every park in the city of Phoenix NOTE Confidence: 0.851061075454545 00:07:53.070 --> 00:07:55.180 being used to its mask potential. NOTE Confidence: 0.855109153571429 00:07:55.270 --> 00:07:57.363 The problem is that there's not enough NOTE Confidence: 0.855109153571429 00:07:57.363 --> 00:07:59.327 shelter space for people who need it, NOTE Confidence: 0.855109153571429 00:07:59.330 --> 00:08:01.568 and when people resort to parks, NOTE Confidence: 0.855109153571429 00:08:01.570 --> 00:08:05.776 it feels like the city isn't trying to even NOTE Confidence: 0.8992194975 00:08:05.790 --> 00:08:08.238 find. Real, sustainable solutions. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:08.310 --> 00:08:10.587 What do you say to the parents who don't NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:10.587 --> 00:08:12.990 feel safe taking their kids to Perry Park? NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:12.990 --> 00:08:16.166 If no one feels safe in a particular NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:16.166 --> 00:08:17.778 situation, that's a parent's job. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:17.778 --> 00:08:18.684 To gauge that. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:18.690 --> 00:08:21.217 Danielle Poveromo is a deputy Parks and NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:21.217 --> 00:08:23.489 Recreation director with the City of Phoenix. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:23.490 --> 00:08:25.250 See something, say something, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:25.250 --> 00:08:27.010 people are saying something. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:27.010 --> 00:08:28.395 And it's not just about NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:28.395 --> 00:08:29.503 calling police or fire. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:29.510 --> 00:08:31.120 If there's a concern regarding NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:32.408 an encampment or homelessness, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:32.410 --> 00:08:33.955 people in Phoenix are encouraged NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:33.955 --> 00:08:35.890 to report it to Phoenix cares, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:35.890 --> 00:08:36.790 a program that. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:36.790 --> 00:08:38.590 Uses a variety of city services, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:38.590 --> 00:08:40.680 including the Parks Department to NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:40.680 --> 00:08:42.770 provide health education and cleanup, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:42.770 --> 00:08:43.688 and sends 2019. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:43.688 --> 00:08:47.194 The 12 news I team found that the number of NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:47.194 --> 00:08:49.780 reports has skyrocketed the city's records, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:49.780 --> 00:08:51.815 tallying more than 21,000 cases NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:51.815 --> 00:08:54.410 over the past 3 1/2 years, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:54.410 --> 00:08:56.192 with number of cases in the NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:56.192 --> 00:08:58.498 first half of 2022 on pace to NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:08:58.498 --> 00:09:00.610 eclipse the full years before it. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:00.610 --> 00:09:03.445 We are there seven days a week, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:03.450 --> 00:09:07.780 monitoring, inspecting, cleaning our parks. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:07.780 --> 00:09:08.644 Every day. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:08.644 --> 00:09:11.236 So we address those situations as NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:11.236 --> 00:09:13.938 they come up and as we see them. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:15.540 And like neighbors told us, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:15.540 --> 00:09:17.525 the reports at Perry Park NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:17.525 --> 00:09:18.716 significantly increased during NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:18.716 --> 00:09:20.359 and after the pandemic. NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:20.660 Morgan, NOTE Confidence: 0.895078915882353 00:09:20.660 --> 00:09:21.260 who shared NOTE Confidence: 0.832176895714286 00:09:21.270 --> 00:09:23.216 her phone records with us called Phoenix, NOTE Confidence: 0.832176895714286 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:25.668 Cares for help three times in the past year, NOTE Confidence: 0.832176895714286 00:09:25.670 --> 00:09:27.994 plus other calls to other city departments, NOTE Confidence: 0.832176895714286 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:30.310 including parks and police. Many, NOTE Confidence: 0.879786966666667 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:31.668 many different departments involved, NOTE Confidence: 0.879786966666667 00:09:31.668 --> 00:09:34.300 and they just point fingers at each other. NOTE Confidence: 0.879786966666667 00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:37.770 And as a busy resident, I'm a full time job. NOTE Confidence: 0.879786966666667 00:09:37.770 --> 00:09:39.470 Mom, Chelsea has four children. NOTE Confidence: 0.879786966666667 00:09:39.470 --> 00:09:41.638 We could be on this like merry go NOTE Confidence: 0.879786966666667 00:09:41.638 --> 00:09:43.640 round for the rest of our lives. NOTE Confidence: 0.862936048 00:09:43.650 --> 00:09:46.242 City data through June 2022 shows all the NOTE Confidence: 0.862936048 00:09:46.242 --> 00:09:48.907 calls to Perry Park have been resolved. NOTE Confidence: 0.862936048 00:09:48.910 --> 00:09:51.154 But Morgan's point is that there's NOTE Confidence: 0.862936048 00:09:51.154 --> 00:09:52.880 always another concern popping up. NOTE Confidence: 0.855125014545455 00:09:52.930 --> 00:09:54.798 It's heartbreaking and exhausting. NOTE Confidence: 0.855125014545455 00:09:54.798 --> 00:09:57.600 We are trapped in this bureaucratic NOTE Confidence: 0.855125014545455 00:09:57.669 --> 00:09:59.000 cycle. We can't get out of NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:01.020 Garcia's office, and other city NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:10:01.020 --> 00:10:02.620 departments have tried to show NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:10:02.676 --> 00:10:04.326 they aren't ignoring Perry Park. NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:10:04.330 --> 00:10:05.770 There's programming like soccer, NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:10:05.770 --> 00:10:07.930 but it's seasonal and in early. NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:10:07.930 --> 00:10:11.074 To lie. The city opened up a NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:10:11.074 --> 00:10:12.870 skate park on an old tennis court, NOTE Confidence: 0.880049134 00:10:12.870 --> 00:10:14.318 much to neighbours excitement. NOTE Confidence: 0.822040905 00:10:14.390 --> 00:10:16.928 It's really getting to be wonderful. NOTE Confidence: 0.822040905 00:10:16.930 --> 00:10:19.090 It had deteriorated a lot NOTE Confidence: 0.843426723333333 00:10:19.150 --> 00:10:20.476 and at the end of July NOTE Confidence: 0.761344964 00:10:21.190 --> 00:10:22.620 Water Day where I saw NOTE Confidence: 0.8929392 00:10:22.630 --> 00:10:24.581 a few dozen people turn out, council NOTE Confidence: 0.8929392 00:10:24.581 --> 00:10:26.898 member Garcia also showed us a mural NOTE Confidence: 0.8929392 00:10:26.898 --> 00:10:28.899 from another park activation event. NOTE Confidence: 0.906361173333333 00:10:28.970 --> 00:10:30.601 It's one of those where you're just NOTE Confidence: 0.906361173333333 00:10:30.601 --> 00:10:32.280 kind of part of the of the group NOTE Confidence: 0.860447805833333 00:10:32.350 --> 00:10:34.105 activation events where neighbors are NOTE Confidence: 0.860447805833333 00:10:34.105 --> 00:10:36.760 encouraged to come and use the park. It is NOTE Confidence: 0.745068552222222 00:10:36.770 --> 00:10:38.194 on all of us. NOTE Confidence: 0.745068552222222 00:10:38.194 --> 00:10:39.974 I think it's important for. NOTE Confidence: 0.745068552222222 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:41.576 Never saw activate the park. NOTE Confidence: 0.745068552222222 00:10:41.576 --> 00:10:43.800 I I think when there's an empty NOTE Confidence: 0.745068552222222 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:46.325 public space and it's the only place NOTE Confidence: 0.745068552222222 00:10:46.325 --> 00:10:48.395 where unsheltered people can be, NOTE Confidence: 0.745068552222222 00:10:48.400 --> 00:10:49.468 they're gonna go there. NOTE Confidence: 0.819453344444444 00:10:49.520 --> 00:10:50.890 Both Chelsea and Morgan said NOTE Confidence: 0.819453344444444 00:10:50.890 --> 00:10:51.986 they've brought their families NOTE Confidence: 0.882689586666667 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.800 to some of these activation events, NOTE Confidence: 0.882689586666667 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:55.594 but don't see a lot sticking NOTE Confidence: 0.882689586666667 00:10:55.594 --> 00:10:57.890 after the events are over. I can't NOTE Confidence: 0.865794681428571 00:10:57.900 --> 00:10:59.279 look at the neighbors and tell them NOTE Confidence: 0.865794681428571 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:00.659 we're going to fix it by tomorrow. NOTE Confidence: 0.865794681428571 00:11:00.660 --> 00:11:02.046 And I also can't guarantee that's NOTE Confidence: 0.865794681428571 00:11:02.046 --> 00:11:03.519 going to be fixed for a year, NOTE Confidence: 0.865794681428571 00:11:03.520 --> 00:11:05.858 because the problems that we end up NOTE Confidence: 0.865794681428571 00:11:05.858 --> 00:11:07.938 seeing here are societal problems NOTE Confidence: 0.865794681428571 00:11:07.938 --> 00:11:09.950 that are impacting everyone. NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:13.190 --> 00:11:14.884 Next up, we start to take a NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:14.884 --> 00:11:16.709 closer look at the city's budget, NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:16.710 --> 00:11:18.576 and this time we really narrowed NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:18.576 --> 00:11:20.250 in on COVID relief money, NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:20.250 --> 00:11:22.158 nearly $100 million the city has NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:22.158 --> 00:11:24.532 right now to use for affordable NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:24.532 --> 00:11:26.089 housing and homelessness. NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:26.090 --> 00:11:27.986 But we found out that only a small NOTE Confidence: 0.922124162307692 00:11:27.986 --> 00:11:29.529 fraction has actually been spent. NOTE Confidence: 0.6116780852 00:11:31.490 --> 00:11:33.520 You know, being out here. NOTE Confidence: 0.781002166666667 00:11:36.380 --> 00:11:37.130 It's not working. NOTE Confidence: 0.846669898 00:11:37.280 --> 00:11:39.320 If you look throughout Phoenix, NOTE Confidence: 0.846669898 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:41.784 you can see the cost of a crisis. NOTE Confidence: 0.7050195125 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:43.052 I've talked to so many kids NOTE Confidence: 0.7050195125 00:11:43.052 --> 00:11:44.174 out here and he asked me, NOTE Confidence: 0.7050195125 00:11:44.174 --> 00:11:45.348 how long have you been on here? NOTE Confidence: 0.7050195125 00:11:45.348 --> 00:11:47.490 I said been out here long time. NOTE Confidence: 0.773838991666667 00:11:47.640 --> 00:11:49.926 Robert Jay is 46 years old. NOTE Confidence: 0.666243465714286 00:11:50.020 --> 00:11:51.315 I say you see these Gray hairs. NOTE Confidence: 0.666243465714286 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:53.196 I didn't get these Gray hairs for no reason. NOTE Confidence: 0.666243465714286 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:55.160 I've been out here since I was 15, NOTE Confidence: 0.666243465714286 00:11:55.160 --> 00:11:57.210 dropped out of high school and didn't NOTE Confidence: 0.666243465714286 00:11:57.210 --> 00:11:59.220 really care much about nothing else. NOTE Confidence: 0.666243465714286 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:02.450 Got them doing drugs and. Drinking NOTE Confidence: 0.8447837 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:04.708 a path where he wants help, NOTE Confidence: 0.32333255 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:05.568 the only place NOTE Confidence: 0.627056153333333 00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:06.738 this is going to get me NOTE Confidence: 0.68641032 00:12:06.750 --> 00:12:09.670 into. Is into the graveyard NOTE Confidence: 0.765672165 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.818 home right now? Is Perry Park, NOTE Confidence: 0.765672165 00:12:11.820 --> 00:12:14.160 near 32nd St and Thomas Rd, NOTE Confidence: 0.765672165 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:16.284 a reality for many simply because NOTE Confidence: 0.765672165 00:12:16.284 --> 00:12:18.290 there's nowhere else to go. What's the NOTE Confidence: 0.785508124285714 00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:19.316 biggest challenge you face NOTE Confidence: 0.785508124285714 00:12:19.316 --> 00:12:20.650 in your role? Homelessness NOTE Confidence: 0.87178962 00:12:20.660 --> 00:12:21.334 is unpredictable. NOTE Confidence: 0.87178962 00:12:21.334 --> 00:12:23.019 You can't predict your inflow. NOTE Confidence: 0.87178962 00:12:23.020 --> 00:12:24.142 You can do the best you NOTE Confidence: 0.87178962 00:12:24.142 --> 00:12:25.349 can with the data you have. NOTE Confidence: 0.848336696363637 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:27.525 Scott Hall is with the city of NOTE Confidence: 0.848336696363637 00:12:27.525 --> 00:12:28.920 Phoenix's homeless services division. NOTE Confidence: 0.848336696363637 00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:30.540 Over the past four years, NOTE Confidence: 0.848336696363637 00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:32.898 reports have soared to Phoenix Cares, NOTE Confidence: 0.848336696363637 00:12:32.900 --> 00:12:34.880 a city helpline designed to respond NOTE Confidence: 0.848336696363637 00:12:34.880 --> 00:12:37.210 to reports of encampments or those NOTE Confidence: 0.848336696363637 00:12:37.210 --> 00:12:38.460 experiencing homelessness. And the NOTE Confidence: 0.859395003333333 00:12:38.470 --> 00:12:41.038 top spots are all public places. NOTE Confidence: 0.859395003333333 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:43.450 Number one with the most calls Burton NOTE Confidence: 0.739172494285714 00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:46.406 Barr Library, the downtown encampment and NOTE Confidence: 0.739172494285714 00:12:46.406 --> 00:12:48.313 intersection for the state's largest shelter. NOTE Confidence: 0.739172494285714 00:12:48.313 --> 00:12:52.499 Coming in at #2 University Park is #3, NOTE Confidence: 0.739172494285714 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:55.842 and Perry Park comes in at #4 with Phoenix's NOTE Confidence: 0.739172494285714 00:12:55.842 --> 00:12:59.047 City Hall coming in close behind at #5. NOTE Confidence: 0.728952518571429 00:12:59.130 --> 00:13:00.190 We're very crystal clear on NOTE Confidence: 0.728952518571429 00:13:00.190 --> 00:13:01.428 the need. The need is great. NOTE Confidence: 0.80218892 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:02.820 The cost to fix it? NOTE Confidence: 0.80218892 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:05.196 Not so clear with funding funneling NOTE Confidence: 0.80218892 00:13:05.196 --> 00:13:06.780 from several different sources, NOTE Confidence: 0.80218892 00:13:06.780 --> 00:13:08.334 including local taxpayers. NOTE Confidence: 0.80218892 00:13:08.334 --> 00:13:10.406 Grants and federal dollars. NOTE Confidence: 0.80218892 00:13:10.410 --> 00:13:11.950 But the funds aren't always NOTE Confidence: 0.80218892 00:13:11.950 --> 00:13:13.860 felt by people who need help. NOTE Confidence: 0.720118677142857 00:13:13.930 --> 00:13:15.250 It's a struggle, especially NOTE Confidence: 0.720118677142857 00:13:15.250 --> 00:13:17.130 in the summer time. Robert NOTE Confidence: 0.848390558823529 00:13:17.140 --> 00:13:19.042 W shared he'd been homeless since NOTE Confidence: 0.848390558823529 00:13:19.042 --> 00:13:20.962 his landlords decided not to renew NOTE Confidence: 0.848390558823529 00:13:20.962 --> 00:13:22.457 his lease during the pandemic. NOTE Confidence: 0.529494797142857 00:13:22.530 --> 00:13:25.519 No availability. So then my voucher expired. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:25.530 --> 00:13:27.522 He's been staying at Perry Park for the NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:27.522 --> 00:13:29.508 past year and says he'll often make the NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:29.508 --> 00:13:31.625 trip to the Human Services campus to try NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:31.625 --> 00:13:34.189 and get help with housing, but no luck. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:34.190 --> 00:13:36.086 I should have been housed already. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:36.090 --> 00:13:37.836 One of the city's biggest funding NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:37.836 --> 00:13:39.630 sources is the federal government. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:39.630 --> 00:13:41.715 Which has given Phoenix nearly NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:41.715 --> 00:13:43.747 $100 million in COVID relief NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:43.747 --> 00:13:45.742 money to address homelessness and NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:45.742 --> 00:13:47.221 affordable housing since 2021. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:47.221 --> 00:13:49.468 But it turns out the city hasn't NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:49.468 --> 00:13:51.099 spent most of that money. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.595 Many of the projects weren't NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:52.595 --> 00:13:54.420 approved until June of this year. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:54.420 --> 00:13:55.124 Even so, NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:55.124 --> 00:13:57.940 the city has only spent about $9 million, NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:13:57.940 --> 00:14:00.656 less than 10% of these federal funds, NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:02.935 and the money has an expiration date. NOTE Confidence: 0.868360411034483 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:05.890 The funding can only be used through 2024. NOTE Confidence: 0.54068930025 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:09.148 All this money you try getting for us. NOTE Confidence: 0.688264024 00:14:09.870 --> 00:14:11.360 Where's this money going? Where's NOTE Confidence: 0.563385237 00:14:11.710 --> 00:14:13.210 the streets? But there's no beds. NOTE Confidence: 0.563385237 00:14:13.210 --> 00:14:14.032 There's nothing. There's NOTE Confidence: 0.563385237 00:14:14.032 --> 00:14:15.950 nothing there for us to go to. NOTE Confidence: 0.7777753615 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:17.484 And you think, Ohh, NOTE Confidence: 0.7777753615 00:14:17.484 --> 00:14:19.650 the city has millions of dollars. NOTE Confidence: 0.7777753615 00:14:19.650 --> 00:14:21.698 For this why are people still on the NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:21.710 --> 00:14:22.838 streets? It's not as easy as NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:22.838 --> 00:14:24.150 just you have a flat number, NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:24.150 --> 00:14:25.446 and that's who you have to solve for. NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:25.450 --> 00:14:27.578 Because you have an outflow number of people, NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:28.894 you're able to place and get NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:28.894 --> 00:14:30.109 house and the treatment and NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:30.109 --> 00:14:31.289 shelters connected with family, NOTE Confidence: 0.850646685 00:14:31.290 --> 00:14:32.599 but you also have an inflow number. NOTE Confidence: 0.915809805555555 00:14:32.610 --> 00:14:34.626 In short, more and more people NOTE Confidence: 0.915809805555555 00:14:34.626 --> 00:14:35.634 are becoming unsheltered, NOTE Confidence: 0.915809805555555 00:14:35.640 --> 00:14:37.255 and despite the millions of NOTE Confidence: 0.915809805555555 00:14:37.255 --> 00:14:38.547 dollars budgeted to help, NOTE Confidence: 0.915809805555555 00:14:38.550 --> 00:14:40.180 the city can't keep up. NOTE Confidence: 0.68265931875 00:14:40.290 --> 00:14:41.850 If everybody's put their hand up and say, NOTE Confidence: 0.68265931875 00:14:41.850 --> 00:14:42.949 I want a shelter bed right now, NOTE Confidence: 0.68265931875 00:14:42.950 --> 00:14:44.382 the answer is no. But we do have NOTE Confidence: 0.68265931875 00:14:44.382 --> 00:14:45.597 a functional system where when we NOTE Confidence: 0.68265931875 00:14:45.597 --> 00:14:46.815 do get people who are willing, NOTE Confidence: 0.68265931875 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:48.380 we can usually find them a shelter bed, NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:14:48.450 --> 00:14:50.102 the state's largest shelter. NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:14:50.102 --> 00:14:51.754 Central Arizona Shelter Services, NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:14:51.760 --> 00:14:53.644 or Cass, is right in the NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:14:53.644 --> 00:14:54.900 heart of downtown Phoenix. NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:14:54.900 --> 00:14:56.430 It added more beds in June, NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:14:56.430 --> 00:14:58.260 bringing the total to 600, NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:14:58.260 --> 00:15:00.060 which are typically all full. NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:02.556 The latest count at the end of August NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:02.556 --> 00:15:04.745 tallied more than 820 people living NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:04.745 --> 00:15:07.235 on the streets outside the shelter, NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:10.430 an area that's come to be known as the Zone, NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:10.430 --> 00:15:12.174 Phoenix's largest homeless encampment. NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:12.174 --> 00:15:13.918 And in early August, NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:13.920 --> 00:15:15.670 residents and property owners sued NOTE Confidence: 0.7569292325 00:15:15.670 --> 00:15:17.989 the city over conditions in the zone. NOTE Confidence: 0.80469581 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:19.556 We're one of the fastest growing cities, NOTE Confidence: 0.80469581 00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:20.400 and that's a good thing. NOTE Confidence: 0.80469581 00:15:20.400 --> 00:15:22.164 But there's consequences that come with that. NOTE Confidence: 0.80469581 00:15:22.170 --> 00:15:24.270 The housing market gets short right now. NOTE Confidence: 0.80469581 00:15:24.270 --> 00:15:25.419 Inflation is high, NOTE Confidence: 0.80469581 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:27.334 and so ultimately homelessness ends NOTE Confidence: 0.80469581 00:15:27.334 --> 00:15:29.160 with someone being housed. We're NOTE Confidence: 0.89847609 00:15:29.170 --> 00:15:31.347 talking with Scott in a new shelter NOTE Confidence: 0.89847609 00:15:31.347 --> 00:15:33.388 space near 28th St in Washington. NOTE Confidence: 0.89847609 00:15:33.390 --> 00:15:35.514 It has 200 beds and there's NOTE Confidence: 0.89847609 00:15:35.514 --> 00:15:37.776 even space for pets, but this NOTE Confidence: 0.89847609 00:15:37.776 --> 00:15:39.680 shelter is perpetually full. Was NOTE Confidence: 0.812865947 00:15:39.690 --> 00:15:41.165 the city of Phoenix prepared NOTE Confidence: 0.812865947 00:15:41.165 --> 00:15:42.640 for that influx of people? NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:42.650 --> 00:15:45.390 Prepared is probably a big term to use, NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:45.390 --> 00:15:46.950 but they were preparing for it, NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:46.950 --> 00:15:49.134 and we prepare for it by creating a NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:49.134 --> 00:15:50.800 robust rental assistance program. NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:52.245 We've been adding shelter capacity NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:52.245 --> 00:15:53.690 over the last several years. NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:53.690 --> 00:15:55.080 We've increased our housing projects NOTE Confidence: 0.613470868 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.470 and our funding toward homelessness. NOTE Confidence: 0.894239048571429 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.615 And some of this is only temporary. NOTE Confidence: 0.894239048571429 00:15:58.620 --> 00:16:00.245 This particular shelter, which opened NOTE Confidence: 0.894239048571429 00:16:00.245 --> 00:16:02.779 as a joint project with Maricopa County, NOTE Confidence: 0.894239048571429 00:16:02.780 --> 00:16:05.770 is only in the budget through December 2024. NOTE Confidence: 0.832635725714286 00:16:05.780 --> 00:16:07.250 But that doesn't mean 200 beds are NOTE Confidence: 0.832635725714286 00:16:07.250 --> 00:16:08.718 just going to go away like that. NOTE Confidence: 0.832635725714286 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.277 We'll evaluate and see how we can fund it, NOTE Confidence: 0.832635725714286 00:16:10.280 --> 00:16:11.450 look for other fund sources. NOTE Confidence: 0.886229154444445 00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:13.577 In the meantime, Scott says the city NOTE Confidence: 0.886229154444445 00:16:13.577 --> 00:16:16.301 is trying to online new shelter options NOTE Confidence: 0.886229154444445 00:16:16.301 --> 00:16:18.085 and continue assistance programs. NOTE Confidence: 0.808311875714286 00:16:18.180 --> 00:16:20.560 And building housing isn't a quick process, NOTE Confidence: 0.808311875714286 00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:22.080 and it's an expensive. Process. NOTE Confidence: 0.808311875714286 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.186 So when you hear these large amounts NOTE Confidence: 0.808311875714286 00:16:23.186 --> 00:16:24.722 of money, sometimes it gets consumed NOTE Confidence: 0.808311875714286 00:16:24.722 --> 00:16:26.540 up pretty quickly of building shelter NOTE Confidence: 0.808311875714286 00:16:26.589 --> 00:16:28.009 projects and housing projects, NOTE Confidence: 0.883441748571429 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.700 long term projects when NOTE Confidence: 0.883441748571429 00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:31.820 people need help. Now when NOTE Confidence: 0.871506210909091 00:16:31.830 --> 00:16:33.195 do you think Phoenix will be at NOTE Confidence: 0.871506210909091 00:16:33.195 --> 00:16:34.752 a point where there is enough NOTE Confidence: 0.871506210909091 00:16:34.752 --> 00:16:36.268 affordable housing for everyone? NOTE Confidence: 0.780741876 00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:38.468 I can't answer that question. I hope soon. NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:42.920 --> 00:16:44.648 So far, this is a small look at NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:44.648 --> 00:16:46.439 the city spending on homelessness NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:47.738 and affordable housing. NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:49.534 The local budget is confusing and NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:49.534 --> 00:16:51.484 we're working to break down exactly NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:51.484 --> 00:16:53.234 where taxpayer dollars are going. NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.550 So stick with us as we continue NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:55.550 --> 00:16:57.744 digging through the data and add to NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:16:57.744 --> 00:17:00.040 our series cost of crisis in Phoenix. NOTE Confidence: 0.90505585 00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:02.000 Erica Stapleton, 12 news.