Arizona’s homelessness crisis is reaching a breaking point, with over 14,000 Arizonans experiencing homelessness nightly. The state faces a deficit of over 183,000 affordable homes for low-income residents, highlighting the need for immediate action. While bipartisan efforts have been made to address the issue, such as allowing casitas and middle housing, broader reforms have been stalled by concerns over neighborhood character and resistance to zoning changes.
The debate between Treatment First and Housing First is a false choice, as integrated care that combines addiction treatment, mental health services, and housing is the most effective approach. Arizona’s disjointed system, with various state agencies working in silos, further complicates the issue.
To address the crisis, Arizona must create a “Homelessness Czar” office to coordinate efforts between agencies, merge housing and health care funding, scale human-centered shelters, and invest in prevention measures. The time for unity and nonpartisan collaboration is long overdue to effectively tackle the homelessness crisis in Arizona.
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