Opinion: Vote no on Prop. 312, which does nothing to fix homelessness

This November, Arizona voters will be asked to decide the fate of Proposition 312, which offers property tax refunds to owners who face costs from public issues like homelessness, vandalism and drug use.

Arizona, like many other states, is struggling with rising homelessness. People in the state face increasing housing costs, evictions, mental health challenges and addiction — all of which contribute to more people who are unhoused.

While Prop. 312 might sound like a reasonable solution, it doesn't address the real causes behind these challenges. Instead, it only offers property owners a way to get reimbursed for cleanup costs after the fact creating financial stress for local governments without solving the underlying factors that cause homelessness.

Phoenix has seen homelessness nearly double since 2017, and the number of drug overdoses has significantly increased. Proposition 312 won’t help reduce these numbers. Without addressing why homelessness and addiction are rising, these problems will keep getting worse, leading to more expenses for everyone.

Many of those expenses would place a strain on city and county budgets. Cities like Phoenix are already stretched thin trying to manage the increasing needs of their communities. Prop. 312 would force them to spend money on refunds instead of important services like public safety, health programs and community support initiatives, taking away from efforts that could reduce the need for these cleanups in the first place.

Instead of bringing property owners and local governments together to work on solutions, Prop. 312 might end up creating more conflict.

If a property owner’s claim for a tax refund is denied, that owner can take the city to court. This creates a system where lawsuits become more common, adding even more costs to local governments that are already struggling with limited resources. And that means less focus on the real problems affecting the community.

To avoid having to pony up tax refunds under Prop. 312, local governments may focus on clearing homeless encampments or enforcing public nuisance laws. But this approach doesn't address the root issues.

Moving people without addressing core problems like lack of access to services only winds up displacing homelessness. When Phoenix cleared the encampment known as the Zone, it became harder for unhoused people to access help, increasing the likelihood of them returning to the streets.

Prop. 312 tries to offer a quick fix, but the reality is that it doesn’t tackle the real issues driving homelessness and crime. Instead of focusing on cleaning up after the fact, Arizona should be investing in solutions like mental health care, job training and addiction recovery, all of which help prevent these problems from happening to begin with.

By ignoring these essential needs, Prop. 312 risks making the problem of homelessness worse. Local governments need support to help people access the services they need to get out of difficult situations. With better resources available, we can reduce the number of people on the streets and improve the quality of life for everyone — property owners included.

The complex problem of homelessness in Arizona demands a thoughtful, effective approach — one that Prop. 312 does not offer. That’s why voters should reject it at the polls and demand measures make a true difference.

Nicole Newhouse is the Executive Director of the Arizona Housing Coalition, where she leads strategic efforts to increase the stock of attainable housing and end homelessness across the state. She is a wife, mom, voracious reader, NCSU Poli Sci and Business alum, Notre Dame and NY Giants fan and lover of nature.