Standing up for the Unhoused

I was drawn to the Society of Friends by the commitment to equality, peace, justice and seeing a light within every human being, no matter their background. Though I have organized many actions led by those values, it was only in the last year, I risked being charged criminally for doing so.

I had been following news stories about the work of a young man, Austin Davis, in Tempe across much of 2024. Austin, a recent graduate of Arizona State University, had been organizing picnics for the unhoused in Tempe parks. His goal was to meet the immediate needs of those on the street. Though initially commended by the city for his efforts, they began to pester him to apply for a five-hundred-dollar special event permit. He ultimately relented but refused to wait 60 days for it to be processed. The picnics did more than feed people: Austin worked diligently to provide clothing or tents and help people get into housing, especially rehab facilities.

The city did not take kindly to him continuing his work without a permit and denied his application. Tempe then started to systematically cite him, and his nonprofit AZHugs, for violating the special event ordinance. At the end of July 2024 Austin was arrested outside his apartment and taken to jail. The next day he was released and shared that the jail was mostly populated with unhoused folks. Austin was banned from city parks or he would face further sanctions.

At a support meeting for Austin, I connected with him and immediately started volunteering each Sunday with AZHugs as volunteers continued his work. Generally, about 60 guests arrived on Sundays. Soon I was scoping out used coolers as I brought cold water and Gatorade.

After consulting with Austin’s lawyer, we found that the city claimed Austin’s picnics were public events. Those of us strategizing decided to make it a private event. I took the liberty of coming up with a name so I could get membership cards and a banner printed. Moeur Park, where we did our work, was originally constructed by the Works Project Administration in 1936 and I chose the “New Deal Meal” as our private event title.

On January 19, 2025, during New Deal Meal, I received an official police warning with my co-volunteer Ron, that stated we were violating the special event ordinance. On January 26, Ron was officially cited. Ron, at the advice of his lawyer, stayed away from the picnic. I decided if I was cited, I would keep returning and they could cite me as much as they wished no matter the consequence. We also determined that having allies wear picnic coordinator badges might be prudent.

I had an opinion piece published in the Arizona Republic on February 5 entitled, “I could be the next one to face charges for feeding Tempe's homeless people: My Quaker values motivate me to befriend those experiencing homelessness at Tempe's Moeur Park. I will continue, even if that makes me a criminal.”

On a local talk radio show, that gave local Quakers their biggest commercial plug, I confessed that I might have to plead guilty to “pre-mediated picnics.” The hosts had a great time making fun of the City of Tempe for an hour.

Ultimately, the combined bad press worked. The city backed off. A federal lawsuit was filed by the Pacific Legan Foundation (a libertarian nonprofit) in April for selective enforcement of the special event ordinance. Both Ron and Austin had their charges dropped as the federal lawsuit was rescinded. In July the city council, despite 80 people speaking in opposition (and 8 in support), passed a complex new ordinance that gave the city much discretion over park use. In response, the local Democratic Socialists of America spearheaded a referendum effort. In the heat of an Arizona July, they collected 4,000 signatures to refer the measure to the ballot. The city council then walked back its ordinance and began a yearlong effort to draft a new ordinance with multiple stakeholder input.

In the meantime, we continue our outreach on Sundays. My favorite part has been to getting to know the people who are part of the New Deal Meal. The volunteers are generous folks ages twenty to late seventies. On Sundays I reach out and listen to the guests and seek out their light. One regular I connect with is 63-year-old Doug. In February he showed up late and in really bad shape. He had contracted pneumonia and while he was in the hospital all of his stuff was stolen. He just had a T-shirt and was afraid he’d die. We rallied, pulled together some food and clothing donations and suggested where Doug could go the next day. Recently Doug moved into senior housing and for him it has been a complete life changer.

Older Kevin was beaten and robbed at a transit stop in front of security personnel who did nothing to help. We consoled him at New Deal Meal the following Sunday. Now I look out for him and give him a warm greeting. He’s still on the street but reported that a $25 investment in a quality poncho at Wal-Mart has helped him keep dry. Younger Kevin (no relation) uses an app to sign up for hard-to-fill shifts at Circle K convenience stores. A few weeks ago, he needed to be at a Circle K at 4:30 the next morning that is about 15 miles away. I gave him the six-dollar bus fare and he found a place to sleep nearby. When I saw him the next week, he was still thanking me and said he’d done three shifts that week. Younger Kevin is being rated really well for his work but not so well on reliability. He needs to come up with $130 each month for his cell phone bill and often cannot. When he can’t pay is phone only works on WIFI and he can’t track his shifts.

Last February I met a man named Tim at the New Deal Meal and listened as he talked about his challenges. He had hopes of going to San Diego with his wife Noel to live on a boat. That plan was on hold while he served probation for trafficking stolen goods that he had not realized were stolen. Tim used to have his own business but now was subsisting by selling items on Facebook Marketplace from a storage unit. They couple were living out of a 1980s Volvo with their 17-year-old dog Guiness. Tim kept apologizing for taking up my time. I assured him my time was best spent listening to him.

I saw Noel a couple weeks later and she broke down as she told me how Tim had been getting really depressed. He had walked away one night, relapsed, and died behind a convenience store from a fentanyl overdose. She also shared that Tim treasured my listening to him. I cried, gave her a hug and some money for immediate needs. I keep tabs on Noel, who fortunately has family support. She now has a place to stay and a full-time job.

While the challenges of those chronically homeless are not easy to address, I have learned that my spirit is lifted and my life enriched each Sunday I spend at Moeur Park. I am determined to find better ways to mirror back the light our guests bring.

Dave Wells is a member of Tempe Monthly Meeting. He currently is the Board treasurer for the American Friends Service Committee. He co-facilitates Alternative to Violence Project workshops and is now leading nonviolence strategy training as well.