A draft of the City of Tucson’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) “People, Communities, and Homes Investment Plan,” or P-CHIP, has been released and HCD is seeking input from the Tucson community. This is the second edition of P-CHIP, and it will serve as a guiding document for HCD’s strategic five-year priorities and goals, as well as providing the framework for HCD’s community grantmaking activities.

The City of Tucson has advanced many of the priorities identified in the first P-CHIP prepared in 2020, for example:

• Establishing the Housing First program, providing street outreach, emergency shelter, and supportive housing solutions that have reached more than 1,000 Tucsonans annually.
• Opening the Housing Choice Voucher program waitlist, which provided new opportunities for low-income Tucsonans to obtain much-needed rental subsidies.
• Launching a non-profit development arm called El Pueblo Housing Development, which now has more than 1,200 units of affordable housing in the development pipeline.

The draft P-CHIP plan articulates HCD’s approach to addressing these challenges through the HCD’s direct work, community grantmaking, and collaboration with other City departments, neighboring jurisdictions, community-based organizations, and the Tucson community. A critical step towards equitable opportunity is providing safe, quality, affordable homes. Additionally, this path encompasses more than just housing – it extends to the essential services that people need to thrive and live in our communities that support us collectively.

We need your input on the draft plan!

Read the draft plan and take the survey to tell us if we missed something, if you have any questions, or other comments. You can provide comments for as few or as many sections of the plan as you would like. Find the draft plan and feedback survey here.

In addition to the draft plan, HCD will hold a virtual community meeting to give the public an opportunity to comment. The session will be held, Tuesday, September 17th, 5:30-6:30 PM. Register for the event here.

The survey will remain open for public comment until Tuesday, September 24th. After reviewing community feedback, HCD will update the plan and submit a final draft to Mayor and Council for approval later this year.

Need help completing the survey or want to receive a paper copy? Call 520-837-5025 or send an email to Ernesto.Portillo@tucsonaz.gov. 

The Annual Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) count, designed to provide a snapshot of households experiencing homelessness on a single night, was conducted in Pima County on January 24, 2024. This survey was supported by the efforts of more than 500 community volunteers, government agencies, and partnering non-profit staff. The 2024 count identified 2,102 people in 1,503 households residing in shelter, transitional housing, or living without shelter in Pima County the night of January 23, 2024.The PIT count, which is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is used in program planning across shelter, housing, and supportive services. The count includes individuals and families residing in emergency shelter or transitional housing, as well as people living without shelter.

These Point in Time Count results provide an overview of homelessness within the region, with total counts of all persons experiencing homelessness on the night of January 24, 2024 in Pima County, Arizona. Full detail of the data submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is also available at https://tpch.net/data/hic-pit/.

Preliminary data demonstrates a decrease in the incidence of unsheltered homelessness. There are some factors that could have contributed to this, including high levels of rain this week that were accompanied by flood warnings and freezing conditions, causing some unsheltered residents to seek safety outside of the normal areas where people experiencing unsheltered homelessness regularly congregate. A fuller analysis of this data is forthcoming.

While an imperfect measure, the annual count is an important tool used to inform priorities for federal, state, and local funding. It also helps identify trends and craft solutions for the needs of vulnerable individuals and families. The analysis and overall trend data are utilized by the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness as one of many tools to track progress toward goals to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness. Additional information about this year’s count and historical Tucson/Pima County PIT data can be explored at https://tpch.net/data/hic-pit/.

Pima County Heat Relief Resources: Cooling Centers and Summer Sun Respite

In collaboration with the Pima County Health Department, the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness (TPCH) has released a list of all summer sun respite and cooling center sites for those experiencing homelessness in Pima County. This flyer is available for download from the TPCH website, but in addition, Pima County has made an entire heat relief webpage including a map of all summer sun respite and cooling center locations for the community to access. 

In addition to these resources, Pima County has convened a Joint Heat Action Team (JHAT) to better coordinate services for those navigating extreme heat in our community. Several updates may support providers in better connecting those experiencing homelessness to heat relief resources. For providers interested in learning how to treat Heat Related Illnesses, training is available on the TPCH Online Learning Center. Click the "E-learning" link at the top of this page to access this training and more.

A flyer including all summer sun respite and cooling center sites is available for download at tpch.net. This flyer will be frequently updated, so click below to access the most updated version. 

Download the 2024 Summer Sun Cooling Station flyer (English and Spanish): 

• Cooling Centers: Indoor, air-conditioned locations that offer hydration.
• Respite Centers: Indoor, air-conditioned locations that offer hydration and allow for uninterrupted rest, sitting, or lying down (depending on each facility) during hours of operation.
• Hydration Station Sites: Locations where individuals can go to receive bottled water and other collected donated items. These can be indoors or outdoors.

• Must be in a Lyft Service Area with a Cooling Center, Respite Center, or Hydration Station Site
• Must be 18 years or older (unless accompanied by a parent/guardian)
• Must be able to get into and out of a car, on their own, and without assistance
• Must comply with Lyft’s Health Safety Commitment
• Rides should be used when no other resources are available and to overcome short-term barriers.