Residents, veterans urge Goodyear council to exempt Stepping Stones housing from new classifications

Delshea Williams, owner of Stepping Stones LLC, told the Goodyear City Council on July 7 that new city regulations risk misclassifying her program and could jeopardize housing for veterans the nonprofit serves.

"We do not meet the definition of an assisted living facility ... a behavioral health group home ... [or] sober living," Williams said, urging council to "recognize Stepping Stones as what it truly is today." She described the program as "a safe, stable place where veterans can live independently and a supportive community," and said staff do not provide medical care, daily living assistance, or medication management.

The testimony came during the public-comment portion of the meeting and was followed by several veterans and residents who credited the program with helping them avoid homelessness. Resident Dane Alley described finding community through the program; Janet Fraser, a U.S. Army veteran, said, "If it wasn't for Stepping Stones, I'd be living on the streets." Retiree Gregory Smalls said the program had provided him a room and care during a period of illness.

Williams told council that the city’s new registration requirements would force Stepping Stones to register as one of several regulated facility types that, she said, do not match the program’s services. She cited protections in the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and warned that misclassification could "directly jeopardize our resident housing by violating the spirit of these laws."

Mayor and council members responded by asking staff to follow up. The mayor asked the city manager to "reach out to see if there's something we can do to deal with that issue," and City Manager Wenette said staff were already looking into it.

Councilwoman Vicki Gillis later requested that staff provide the information gathered back to her and to the full council. The council did not take formal action on the issue during the meeting; staff indicated they will investigate and report back to the council.

Why it matters: The dispute concerns how local regulations categorize residential programs that serve vulnerable populations. A change in classification could trigger licensing or operational requirements that, according to Williams and several veterans, would threaten the program’s ability to provide low-barrier housing to people exiting homelessness.

What’s next: City staff committed to follow up and provide information to council. Councilwoman Gillis requested that staff share findings with all council members.