Advocates for Tempe’s homeless community have criticized how the city enforces certain laws, saying officials are making it harder to exist in the city as a homeless individual. The city denied those claims and pointed to investments in homeless outreach services.
Austin Davis is the founder of AZ HUGS, a volunteer organization that provides meals and assistance in Tempe. He said the city is selectively targeting homeless populations using urban camping and trespassing violations.
“People deserve better than to be pushed into this box of criminal and to be constantly criminalized simply for existing in public and looking impoverished,” Davis said…