The Scottsdale City Council voted Tuesday to accept a $940,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Housing to house homeless people from Phoenix’s “The Zone” encampment and illegal immigrants in a Scottsdale hotel. Five council members and Mayor David Ortega voted yes, with Scottsdale City Councilman Barry Graham the sole no vote on Resolution No. 12888, the Homeless Shelter and Service Funding Agreement.
Graham tweeted his disappointment in the vote. “Last night, council voted to accept nearly $1 million from AZ Department of Housing on condition to house homeless from Phoenix and border migrants—not Scottsdale homeless,” he said. “The city will rent hotel rooms in McCormick Ranch-area. I voted ‘no’ based on responses to my questions about vetting participants and community safety. Scottsdale residents are compassionate—however there are better ways to demonstrate compassion.”
In contrast, Solange Whitehead, who was endorsed by Arizona List, which seeks to “elect more pro-choice, Democratic women,” stated during the meeting, “I am thrilled; congratulations on the fast turnaround on the grant money.”
Greg Bestgen, Human Services Department Director for the City of Scottsdale, addressed the council members during the meeting about the grant. He said the city applied for it a little over a month ago and was approved two weeks ago. Of the $940,000, $500,000 will be allocated for room rentals, $400,000 for supportive services, and $40,000 for food. He said it will allow the city to serve another 120 adults over the next year. Of the 10 hotel rooms, 33 percent must serve people from The Zone, so three of those rooms will be dedicated to the homeless.
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