CHANDLER, Ariz. – The City Council has introduced ordinances that would limit the use of transit stops and urban camping in Chandler. Both ordinances will be considered for adoption at the April 10 City Council meeting. If approved, the transit ordinance would become effective on May 10 and the urban camping ordinance would become effective on July 1. The proposed ordinances mirror similar laws in other Valley cities.
The use of transit stops would be limited to a one-hour duration and transit stops would be closed when bus service is not in operation. Overnight parking also would be prohibited at park and ride facilities in Chandler.
Urban camping would be prohibited on public property in Chandler, at city facilities or parking areas and within 500 feet of a school, childcare facility, shelter or park. Exceptions can be granted with permission from the city and in cases of emergency/disaster relief camps. Warnings will be issued prior to a citation, offering offenders an opportunity to accept social services in lieu of a citation. Penalties include education, treatment or community restitution.
The ordinances were developed based on direction given during a Chandler City Council work session discussion in January regarding homeless-related court decisions, Arizona voters passage of Proposition 312 and ordinances that have been recently adopted by other Valley cities.
Chandler offers a continuum of services to address and prevent homelessness. Prevention activities include emergency assistance, service navigation and home rehabilitation services.
The community navigator program, called Chandler Connect, engages people experiencing unsheltered homelessness with the goal of building a path to permanent housing. Services often include assistance obtaining temporary accommodations and vital documents, connections to employers and healthcare services and addressing outstanding issues in the criminal justice system.
Permanent solutions, including transitional and permanent housing, are offered with intensive case management and housing stability services to identify, obtain and maintain appropriate housing and ongoing support.
Chandler’s approach generated 86 percent positive outcomes from initial outreach to getting people into temporary, transitional and permanent housing last year. Those figures increased to 98 percent positive outcomes for participants of Operation Open Door, the city’s non-congregate shelter program.