I live next to a pocket park frequently used by the homeless for camping, so I know the negative effects of homeless camps on surrounding neighborhoods. This is one reason I oppose Councilmember Uhlich’s “Helping Huts” proposal to allow homeless camping in our city parks (Daily Star Top Story 3/28/25). While I think sanctioned campgrounds with wrap-around services are perhaps the best immediate response to the service-resistant homeless, I do not think city parks are a good place for them. As Steve Kozachik recommended, a better place would be in industrial or rural zones, not residential or business neighborhoods.
The best place for unhoused persons is initially a shelter, and eventually a home. According to the latest (2024) point-in-count survey, there are enough shelter beds in Tucson currently for every homeless person. But if you want no-barrier beds for service-resistant unhoused populations, sanctioned campgrounds outside of business and residential areas are a reasonable compromise while other longer-term solutions are developed.
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Adrian Wurr
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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