SE Valley Times

The Chandler City Council in Arizona is considering adopting two new ordinances aimed at regulating transit stops and urban camping. The ordinances will be up for a vote at the upcoming City Council meeting on April 10. If approved, the ordinance concerning transit stops will take effect on May 10, while the urban camping ordinance is set for implementation on July 1. These measures are aligned with existing regulations in other cities within the Valley area.

The proposed transit ordinance restricts the use of transit stops to one hour and mandates their closure when bus services are not operating. Furthermore, overnight parking at park and ride facilities will be prohibited in Chandler.

The urban camping ordinance would ban camping on public property, at city facilities or parking areas, and within a 500-foot radius of schools, childcare facilities, shelters, or parks. Exceptions to these provisions are possible with city permission or in emergencies and disaster relief scenarios. Offenders will be issued warnings before citations, with the option to accept social services instead of penalties, which may include education, treatment, or community restitution.

These ordinances stem from discussions in a Chandler City Council work session held in January. The session focused on homelessness-related court decisions, the passage of Proposition 312 by Arizona voters, and similar ordinances adopted by other cities in the region.

To address and prevent homelessness, Chandler offers a range of services. This includes emergency assistance, service navigation, and home rehabilitation efforts. The city's community navigator program, known as Chandler Connect, aims to build pathways to permanent housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. This program often includes temporary accommodation assistance, help with obtaining vital documents, connections to employment and healthcare, and resolving criminal justice issues.

Long-term solutions incorporate transitional and permanent housing supported by intensive case management and housing stability services, ensuring individuals can find and maintain suitable housing and receive ongoing support.