PHOENIX — As summer heat approaches, Phoenix is moving to require permits for medical treatment and food distribution in city parks. It is a plan nonprofits say could cut off lifesaving care for the city’s homeless population.
The Safe Medical Treatment in Parks Ordinance would require organizations that want to provide medical treatment or give out food in city parks to first get approval from the city.
Both food distribution and medical treatment events would need to be licensed, insured and capped at a combined two organizations per park, for each month.
Medical care would also need to take place off green spaces, in enclosed areas on asphalt or in parking lots.
The ordinance describes medical care as treatment involving needles, syringes or that produces medical waste, including bandaging or dressing wounds.
The City Council passed the ordinance in December, but on March 4 delayed its effective date to June 1 to allow time for community input and amendments.
On May 6, the city is set to again vote on it, after various rounds of community feedback and adding language also applying restrictions to food distribution.
City leaders say ordinance strikes a balance
Phoenix Councilwoman Ann O’Brien supports the measure, arguing it won’t result in worse medical outcomes for unhoused people and helps achieve city goals.
“(The) biggest issue we want to address is making sure we’re providing safe, clean and accessible parks while still allowing our vulnerable populations to be served,” said O’Brien.
The councilmember said when it comes to situations where unhoused people need medical assistance, including those in city parks, they should be calling 911.
RELATED STORIES
O’Brien said food distribution was added to the ordinance after reports of unsanctioned food handouts in city parks.
“It just made sense to include them in the same ordinance,” said the councilmember. “There are places for folks to go so that we can provide them the services they need. We want folks to get help and back on their feet,” O’Brien added.
She emphasized the ordinance does not ban medical care in parks but requires organizations to coordinate with the city through a permitting process.
While the ordinance does carry criminal penalties, O’Brien says the city will aim to “lead with education” in enforcement.
Health care nonprofit for unhoused people raises concerns
Circle the City, a Phoenix nonprofit that sends doctors and medical staff to treat homeless people in parks, is pushing back on the ordinance.
The nonprofit seeks out and maintains relationships with people on the streets, providing medical care not unlike a routine checkup, except that it takes place outdoors.
“They go to different parks on different days. Sometimes they’ll do four parks in one day … depending on how many people they can see,” explains Circle the City CEO Kim Depres.
She said the organization had been working with the city on changes to the ordinance since December.
“I was a little shocked at the proposal that came back to us,” she said. “It’s very restrictive, it puts us in competition with some of the organizations that provide food to unhoused people in the parks, it’s really not a workable solution for us.”
Depres points out unhoused people cannot contact 911 in many cases due to not having a phone.
“We have learned at Circle the City that we need to go to them,” she said.
Depres said the permitting process may not work for her teams, which move between parks daily based on where the need is greatest.
Perla Puebla, a Circle the City medical worker, said she worries the ordinance will limit the care her team can provide when deadly summer heat arrives.
“We give IVs and medication in the parks,” explained Puebla. “For us, to be able to keep the numbers low and decrease deaths, it would be nice to be able to take care of people at the parks.”
Maricopa County heat-related deaths fell 30% in 2025, to 427. Puebla said outreach by groups like Circle the City in Phoenix parks contributed to the decline. While water distribution would not be impacted, using IVs for hydration would be.
“Neighbors … don’t want to bring their children, their families, or their pets to parks where there’s dirty needles or bloody bandages. I understand that perfectly. However, pulling us out or limiting the amount of food is not going to solve the problem,” argued Depres.
Council seeks public comment ahead of May 6 vote
An online survey is currently gauging public opinion.
The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to vote on the measure May 6 after public comment.
We want to hear from you.
Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.
