City Crime & Policy Brief

Phoenix gears up for 2026-27 budget with Trial Budget presentation next Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

• Community hearings in early...

Phoenix's new homelessness plan, unveiled in February, is already delivering: a woman who distrusted help now has her own apartment after seeking...

Phoenix Budget Decision

• 🔥 Phoenix City Council is holding its decision on the 2026-27 Budget today, available to watch live on Phoenix Channel...

• East Lansing City Council votes today on two ordinances banning camping in public spaces.
• Aimed at reducing homeless people in the downtown area.
• Potential model for Phoenix's public-space policies on encampments.

• 11% decrease in people accessing homeless services, despite over 6,000 in system
• 32% increase in moves to permanent housing via prevention and...

Evidence-based win: California's 2019 pilot funded $15.75M for pet accommodations, helping 4,407 homeless keep pets in shelters.

• 886 moved to...

• Decision: Council votes on the 2026-27 Budget
• Watch live: Phoenix Channel 11 or phoenix.gov/phxtv
• Agendas: Available 24+ hours before at City Council Meeting page

Philadelphia's 2025 PIT count: 5,516 homeless, 6% rise—highest since 2020, fourth straight year.

• Unsheltered jumps 20% to 1,178; sheltered at...

Key shifts in Oakland after Supreme Court's Grants Pass ruling:

• Forceful sweeps ramped up: More police (dozens vs. handful), less notice, bolder...

Phoenix Shelter Announcements

• 🔥 Arizona announces homeless shelters in Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Kingman, focusing on diversifying shelter...

National crisis affects 771,480 people, with over half in top 50 cities.

• #1 NYC: 140,134 homeless
• #2 LA: 71,201
• #9 Phoenix/Maricopa: 9,435, hit hard by extreme heat and shelter shortages

• Rapid rescue of woman and child from locked patio, but suspect cocked gun and fired through windows
• Barricaded man downed police drone, refused...

Arizona announces homeless shelters in Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Kingman, diversifying shelter options and building affordable housing to address homelessness.

Early Heat Dangers for Homeless

• 🔥 Nonprofits Gear Up for Extreme Heat: Nonprofits in Tempe are preparing the homeless population as...

Urgent crisis: Triple-digit heat weeks early endangers unsheltered, after 420 Maricopa heat deaths last year—cooling centers still closed til May.

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Dual signals boost Phoenix housing affordability for median-income households:

• Affordability index climbs from 71 to 77 – now 77% of median-income...

Phoenix zoning reformers, note California's trap: Nearly 40,000 shovel-ready affordable units—with zoning, designs, and support—await final funding...

Phoenix Housing Milestones

• 🔥 Alta Vista Ranch Completion: Maricopa County celebrated the completion of Alta Vista Ranch, a 25-home affordable...

Phoenix Planning & Zoning Commission met March 9, 2026; YouTube video (48:10) now available for Ashford PZC.

Phoenix can adapt proven Canadian strategies amid shelter expansions and encampment policies:

• Prevention beats response: Costs fraction of...