Adi Guajardo developed a passion for journalism in middle school, and her love for storytelling has flourished over the years.
Just two hours north of Phoenix lies Sedona, a city surrounded by massive red rock formations. The desert paradise is known for its serene beauty, but just past the majestic canvas lies a housing crisis and a community clashing over a program that would allow people to legally sleep in their cars overnight.
The two-year Safe Place to Park program would provide a legal parking area for up to 40 Sedona employees living in their vehicles and include amenities like showers and bathrooms. The lot would be located on a 5-acre site which is part of the 40-acre Cultural Park, and city officials said it would only be open during designated hours.
“It was really challenging having to figure out where I was sleeping every night and having to go to work and hold down a full-time job,” Vandorn said. Jablow said they are in a landlocked city and face many challenges that have exacerbated the housing crisis over the years. Shannon Boone, the Sedona Housing manager, said the latest data shows the average cost of a home is $990,000, and the average rent is $2,200. According to Boone, only 4% of homes in Sedona are apartments, and 17% of the homes are short-term rentals. The mayor blames the high percentage of short-term rentals for further diminishing housing affordability.
“I know plenty of other workplaces in the area also pay high wages and it's just not enough with the extremely high rents,” Williams said. Some residents have sought to revive the Cultural Park into a music venue and have suggested moving the overnight parking lot to another site, but Jablow said the park is the only viable option with the necessary infrastructure for the initiative.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Frustrations mount as Change Healthcare grapples with cyberattackAdi Guajardo developed a passion for journalism in middle school, and her love for storytelling has flourished over the years.
Read more »
Vice President Kamala Harris holds roundtable on marijuana policiesAdi Guajardo developed a passion for journalism in middle school, and her love for storytelling has flourished over the years.
Read more »
'Sleeping Beauty' Gets Dreamy 65th Anniversary Funko Pop FiguresKevin is a passionate news writer with years of experience covering a variety of topics ranging from pop culture to hard-hitting news content. As a film enthusiast first and foremost, with a passion for horror, science fiction, and historical epics, Kevin can easily engage in any topic relating to the industry.
Read more »
While You Were Sleeping, The Senate Averted a Government ShutdownHouse Speaker Mike Johnson is now facing the same threat that felled his predecessor.
Read more »
Get Your Best Sleep With These 38 Bedroom Must-HavesWe spend one-third of our life sleeping, so it's time to take it seriously.
Read more »
'Sleeping Dogs' — Karen Gillan's Biggest Challenge Was Being InauthenticMaggie Lovitt is the Lead News Editor at Collider and panelist on Collider Dailies. In addition to reporting on the latest entertainment news, she is also an actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild based out of the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Read more »