PHOENIX — Nearly three years after a sprawling homeless encampment known as “The Zone” in downtown Phoenix was cleared, some business owners and people living on the streets there said signs of its return are emerging.
The area, which once spanned roughly 15 blocks, had more than 1,000 people living in tents along sidewalks and streets before a 2023 court order required the city to clear the encampments. The conditions created safety and sanitation concerns for nearby residents and businesses.
Today, the situation has improved significantly, but hundreds of people are still living unsheltered in the area…