Arizona
Accommodation crisis: Arizona city to allow workers to sleep in their cars – Times of India
NEW DELHI: An Arizona city has given the green light to a program that permits homeless workers to sleep in their cars due to soaring housing prices, causing discontent among residents, reports The New Pork Post.
The Sedona City Council voted 6-1 in favor of The Safe Place to Park initiative, offering 40 designated parking spots with temporary bathrooms and showers for full-time employees within the city limits.
Mayor Scott Jablow, acknowledging the necessity of the program, expressed that it is a last-resort measure during a lengthy meeting where locals voiced opposition. Participants in the program must engage with local social services to eventually secure permanent housing.
However, critics fear that the site may lead to pollution, drug use, and illegal activities, impacting the park and surrounding area negatively.
Funded by a two-year grant from the Arizona department of housing, Safe Place to Park will be overseen by the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition, monitoring the lot nightly. Vehicles are required to vacate the premises during daytime hours.
Situated in a 6-acre parking lot within Sedona’s 41-acre Cultural Park, the land was purchased by the city for $23 million last year, ensuring no visibility to nearby residents.
City officials stress that the program is temporary, scheduled to end in 2026 upon depletion of the grant funding. The land will be rezoned in June 2026.
This initiative follows a year of planning as the city sought a solution to accommodate city workers while awaiting the completion of various affordable housing projects.
The Sedona City Council voted 6-1 in favor of The Safe Place to Park initiative, offering 40 designated parking spots with temporary bathrooms and showers for full-time employees within the city limits.
Mayor Scott Jablow, acknowledging the necessity of the program, expressed that it is a last-resort measure during a lengthy meeting where locals voiced opposition. Participants in the program must engage with local social services to eventually secure permanent housing.
However, critics fear that the site may lead to pollution, drug use, and illegal activities, impacting the park and surrounding area negatively.
Funded by a two-year grant from the Arizona department of housing, Safe Place to Park will be overseen by the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition, monitoring the lot nightly. Vehicles are required to vacate the premises during daytime hours.
Situated in a 6-acre parking lot within Sedona’s 41-acre Cultural Park, the land was purchased by the city for $23 million last year, ensuring no visibility to nearby residents.
City officials stress that the program is temporary, scheduled to end in 2026 upon depletion of the grant funding. The land will be rezoned in June 2026.
This initiative follows a year of planning as the city sought a solution to accommodate city workers while awaiting the completion of various affordable housing projects.