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Homelessness, housing and 'housing-first' emerge as centerpieces of Tempe debate
Summary
Candidates largely endorsed housing-first approaches and partnerships with nonprofits, but differed on scale and funding: incumbents highlighted local programs and spending while challengers stressed increased public housing on city land and stronger tenant protections.
Homelessness and housing affordability dominated a large portion of the Tempe City Council candidate forum as contenders weighed immediate outreach against longer-term housing investments.
Several candidates, including Brooke St. George and other challengers, explicitly backed Housing First — removing sobriety and employment prerequisites and focusing public resources on shelter, bridge housing and supportive services. St. George said the city should prioritize public housing on city-owned parcels and pursue 300–400 units of permanent supportive housing to create exits from…
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