Arizona lawmakers are taking a stance that could heavily impact the state's homeless population, with the passage of a controversial bill requiring hotels that offer rooms to unhoused individuals to prominently advertise this fact. According to KJZZ, the legislation, which has cleared the Senate and now returns to the House, not only mandates hotels to disclose their participation in shelter programs on their websites but also to place physical signage on their properties. This move coincides with an end to state and local subsidies for these services.
Introduced by Rep. Matt Gress, House Bill 2803 is aimed at stopping what he sees as a failed approach to homelessness issues, drawing comparisons with struggles faced in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where similar measures have been undertaken. He argues, "These services haven’t worked in San Francisco or Los Angeles, and he doesn’t want them imported here," conveyed in a discussion with FOX 10 Phoenix. Critics, however, fear that such policies only serve to amplify stigmatization of an already vulnerable demographic. They argue that the measures further harm vulnerable populations, including veterans, domestic violence survivors, seniors, youths, and families who rely on this option as a last resort.
The bill’s sponsors believe that better solutions lie in more controlled environments where unhoused individuals can receive comprehensive services, as illustrated by Rep. Gress’s notion of the need for “command and control over the entire facility” to prevent issues such as drug trafficking and potential risks to other hotel patrons. Supporters emphasize the importance of emergency and transitional shelters, which provide supervision and can better manage the treatment and tracking of those they serve, which is essential, according to Rep. Gress, who told FOX 10 Phoenix about his vision for addressing homelessness.
However, the Arizona Housing Coalition and other homeless advocates worry about the repercussions that HB 2803’s implementation could have on the state’s most at-risk populations. Nicole Newhouse, executive director of the Arizona Housing Coalition, warned about the potential fallout: “Most people do not enter homelessness looking like that archetype. They start at a place, and it’s a place that they are seeking help, and they don’t get it. So, hotels are places where we can prevent that, at least temporarily, until we can connect people to more suitable shelter and the support they need to build their lives to a place where they can thrive on their own,” she elaborated to FOX 10 Phoenix.
With a previous attempt at passing similar legislation having failed, Rep. Gress remains determined despite the possibility of a gubernatorial veto by Governor Katie Hobbs, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The HB 2803 has sparked debate over mixing temporary housing with commercial businesses. Critics like Democratic Sen. Lauren Kuby argue it raises important questions about how to address homelessness while maintaining dignity and societal responsibility.
