Download the 2023 Summer Sun Cooling Station flyer (English and Spanish) here.
We've added a number of behavioral health and best practice training offerings to the TPCH Online Training Center!
Have you checked out the TPCH Online Training Center recently? We have more than 70 on-demand training offerings available to help you in your work with people experiencing homelessness. Check out all of the behavioral health and best practice training resources that we've added this month!
Recently Added On Demand Training Courses
Effective Behavioral Health Crisis Response
Addressing Drug Overdose Deaths in a Culturally Responsive System of Care
Housing Supports for Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness
Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness
Supporting Resiliency in Housing and Health Professionals
Trauma-Informed Outreach and Engagement Learning Series
Best Practices in Whole Person Care: Homelessness and Opioid Use Disorder
Funding Supportive Housing Services for People with Behavioral Health Needs
Disaster Response Planning for Homeless Service Providers
Supportive Housing Learning Series
Methamphetamine and the Transition to Housing
Integrating Behavioral Health Supports in Respite Care
Helping Individuals Experiencing Homelessness Obtain Identity Documents
Providing Affirming Services to LGBTQ+ Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Stabilizing Housing for Families of Children Experiencing Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse Challenges
Taking a Trauma-Informed Approach with Events of Escalation
Street Medicine for Unsheltered Individuals: Serving People Where They Are
The TPCH Online Training Center is a free resource for TPCH member agencies and members of TPCH committees, coalitions, and the Continuum of Care Board.
Click here to download the full report.
Correction Issued May 15, 2023: The original report released on May 12, 2023 included an error in the number of persons experiencing homelessness who were sheltered on the night of the 2020 point in time count. This error was located in the data chart on page 10 of the report and has been corrected. Please download the corrected report using the link above.
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, 2023. This survey was supported by the efforts of more than 200 community volunteers, government agencies, and partnering non-profit staff. The 2023 count identified 2,209 people in 1,666 households residing in shelter, transitional housing, or living without shelter in Pima County the night of January 23, 2023.
In 2023, the total PIT count was up sixty percent from 2018, which represents an increase of 829 people over five years. For the first time since 2019, the 2023 count of persons in temporary shelter locations increased by twenty-two percent, totaling 708 persons, and the unsheltered count decreased by nine percent, totaling 1,501 persons (148 fewer unsheltered persons than in 2022). An additional 2,017 persons were residing in longer-term housing programs for persons experiencing homelessness on the night of the count.
Rates of homelessness decreased in 2023 among many vulnerable populations. Youth households saw the greatest decrease in homelessness with 163 youth under the age of 25 experiencing homelessness on the night of January 24, 2023, down thirty-nine percent from 2022 and down six percent from 2018. Veteran homelessness decreased by fourteen percent from 2022 and is down four percent from 2018. Although overall veteran homelessness has decreased, the number of veterans who were unsheltered on the night of the count remains forty-seven percent higher than in 2018.
Although positive trends have been seen among many populations, rates of homelessness among single adults increased for the fifth consecutive year with a total of 1,413 unsheltered single adults identified in the 2023 count. The number of chronically homeless persons has more than doubled since 2018 and seventy-seven percent of chronically homeless persons were unsheltered on the night of the 2023 count.
Overall, the 2023 PIT data reflects the growing number of people experiencing homelessness in Pima County since 2018 and offers initial indication that current efforts are beginning to reduce overall homelessness in the region after a period of rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented strain on our homelessness response system. Although we have a long way to go, the positive momentum over the past 12 months highlights the importance of continued community collaboration and innovation to address the crisis of unsheltered homelessness facing our region,” said TPCH Board Chairperson, Jocelyn Muzzin.
The Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness and its member agencies continue to work to prevent and end homelessness in Tucson and Pima County through a variety of strategies which include:
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.
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/.
TPCH Announces Funding for Prevention in Pima County
TPCH has funding available to its member organizations to address immediate needs that would divert or prevent someone from becoming homeless. This funding is intended to be used for costs that are otherwise not covered by existing programming in the community.
Housing programs can cover a wide variety of costs; but many still have limitations on the types of costs that they can cover. Finding additional resources for these uncovered costs can be time-consuming, which means that an unsheltered person cannot move into a housing unit, or a person facing eviction can get evicted while waiting. In some cases, people have the resources to be self-sufficient once they become housed, but lack the start-up costs associated with moving in. (i.e. application / administrative fee security deposit).
Eligible Costs
This funding is intended to fill those gaps in order to prevent or quickly resolve a person's or family's homelessness. It is a one-time intervention to resolve the immediate need, and it is very flexible so long as the expense prevents or ends homelessness. It is not intended to be ongoing or used to merely delay homelessness. Costs that are eligible for this funding are:
• Application Fee / Admin Fee / Security Deposit / Pet Deposit / Utility Hook-Up / Utility Deposit
• Rent Arrears / Utility Arrears, When Needed to Move In or Prevent Eviction
• Bed Bug Treatment, When Needed to Prevent Eviction
• Identification Documents
• Moving Costs
• One-Time Vehicle Repair, When Needed to Prevent Job Loss and Subsequent Eviction
• Limited Motel Stays, in Certain Circumstances
• One-Way Travel, in Certain Circumstances
Ineligible Costs
Because the purpose of this funding is to quickly prevent or end homelessness, ineligible costs include - but are not limited to - court costs, legal fees, food, clothing, toiletries, cleaning products, and ongoing assistance. Funds must be requested by the TPCH member providing the services. Funds may not be directly requested by the person in need. If the purpose of your request is not listed in either of these sections, please email TPCH@tucsonaz.gov for clarification.
Funding Process:
To request funds, click on the image above or snap the QR code below. That will take you to the electronic form and give you the ability to submit supporting documents. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your request. Your submission will then be reviewed for completeness and eligibility. You will be notified to inform you if your submission was approved or not, or if additional information is needed. Approved requests will be forwarded on and a check will be mailed directly to the vendor. Checks will not be made payable to program participants.
In some circumstances, checks may be mailed to the requesting agency instead of the vendor. In urgent situations, agency staff may be able to pick up the check from the fiscal agent instead of it being mailed. For either of these situations, please email TPCH@tucsonaz.gov once you have submitted your request. Providers may also pay for the expense themselves and submit a request to be reimbursed. In these cases, the request must be submitted and approved in advance, and the provider must email proof of payment to TPCH@tucsonaz.gov within 14 days in order to be reimbursed.
If you have any questions, please email TPCH@tucsonaz.gov.
DOWNLOAD THE FLIER WITH THE QR CODE TO SHARE.
Join us for the quarterly General Council meeting of the TPCH membership on Thursday, May 11, 2023. This meeting will be held in person.
For a list of members eligible to vote in this meeting, see the TPCH Voting Member Roster linked below.
Please note that the meeting will be 12:30pm - 2:30pm, followed by additional training opportunities 2:45pm - 5:00pm.
Session 1: 2:45-3:45 PM
McKinney-Vento Act & Benefits
(Presented by Arizona Department of Education)
Understanding the Rules of Pets vs. Qualified Animals
(Presented by Southwest Fair Housing Council)
Community Engagement Through an Equity Lens
(Presented by City of Tucson Office of Equity)
Session B: 4:00-5:00 PM
HMIS Data Quality
(Presented by Pima County)
Coordinated Entry 101
(Presented by City of Tucson)
Changes to the Rapid Re-Housing Rent Calculation
(Presented by Dia Nonaka, Hom Inc.)
Roll Call and Consent Agenda
Jocelyn Muzzin, Continuum of Care Board Chairperson
Community Celebrations
Jocelyn Muzzin, Continuum of Care Board Chairperson
Boxes of Hope Presentation
Beau Phillips
TPCH Updates
Cindy McClain, Continuum of Care Lead Agency (City of Tucson)
Budget Updates
Cindy McClain, Continuum of Care Lead Agency (City of Tucson)
TPCH Election Process and Overview
Cindy McClain, Continuum of Care Project Supervisor
Motion: Currently-seated Board members have the option to add an additional 1 year to their current term, as a one-time solution in 2023 to ensure off-set election cycles in future years
Cindy McClain, Continuum of Care Project Supervisor
Motion: Approve the attached updates (Sections 6.03, 6.11, and 7.09) to the TPCH Governance Charter
Cindy McClain, Continuum of Care Project Supervisor
Committee and Coalition Updates
Committee and Coalition Representatives
New Business/Announcements
Group Discussion
TPCH General Council Meeting Draft Agenda (May 11, 2023)
TPCH Voting Member Roster as of May 2023
TPCH General Council Meeting Minutes (February 9, 2023)
TPCH Continuum of Care Board Recommended Changes to TPCH Governing Charter
TPCH CONTINUUM OF CARE BOARD AND COMMITTEE ELECTION
ALL VOTES DUE BY 11:59PM ON FRIDAY, MAY 19
Please attend the General Council on May 11th when the voting materials for this year's election will be reviewed. Members of the TPCH General Council with voting privileges are eligible to vote on all vacant Board and Committee seats.
ELECTION MATERIALS
Download the Board and Committee election materials here. This package includes:
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS
Voting will occur online, starting April 28. Cast your vote here.
Only one ballot may be cast for each TPCH voting organizational member identified in the membership roster. Multiple votes from the same organization will not be accepted.
Ballots may not include votes for more candidates than are eligible for election on any voting body. The ballot indicates the total number of votes that can be cast for each voting body.
No individual may serve on more than two (2) elected bodies of the Continuum of Care (CoC Board + 1 Committee, or 2 Committees).
No agency may have more than two (2) representatives seated on any elected body. If an agency has two (2) elected representatives on a single elected body, each representative will have one vote on all actions taken by the elected body.
All ballots must be cast online no later than 11:59pm on Friday, May 19.
Late ballots will not be accepted.
TPCH Continuum of Care Board announces call for Board and Committee Applications
Applications due Sunday, April 23, 2023
The Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness (TPCH) is a coalition of community and faith-based organizations, government entities, businesses, and individuals committed to the mission of ending homelessness and addressing the issues related to homelessness in our community. The Board and committees form the core of our governance model, where community members, people with lived experience, and agency staff come together to lead our strategic efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
The TPCH Governance Charter outlines the purpose, responsibilities, and procedures for each TPCH committee. Committee members oversee and monitor the shared work of TPCH and its members, providing guidance and expertise to the CoC Board. Committee members are elected and appointed annually in May. All of TPCH’s governing documents can be found by clicking TPCH Governing Documents - Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness, and committee responsibilities can be found by clicking TPCH Committees & Community Coalitions - Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness.
Following is a list of the current vacancies, which will be filled by a combination of General Council election and Board appointment.
TPCH Board (4 vacancies)
The Board is an independent body comprised of community stakeholders who are committed to furthering TPCH’s work to prevent and end homelessness in Tucson and throughout Pima County. The Board serves as the primary decision-making body for TPCH and oversees planning for the area and funding activities conducted by TPCH.
Click here to apply to fill a vacant CoC Board seat.
Coordinated Entry Committee (up to 2 vacancies, dependent upon Board vote on April 25)
The Coordinated Entry Committee provides expertise, oversight, and guidance to the CoC Board, related to the TPCH Coordinated Entry System.
Continuum of Care Program Grant Committee (2 vacancies)
The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Grant Committee provides expertise and guidance to the Board related to the HUD CoC funding program in Tucson/Pima County.
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Committee (1 vacancy)
The HMIS Committee provides expertise, oversight, and guidance to the CoC Board related to the TPCH Homeless Management Information System.
System Performance Evaluation Committee (3 vacancies, 2 of which are for persons with lived experience)
The System Performance Evaluation Committee monitors the effectiveness and efficiency of the Tucson/Pima homeless response system’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness in the area. The committee provides expertise and guidance to the Board to improve system performance.
Youth Action Committee (YAC) (6 vacancies for persons younger than 25 years of age)
As a committee comprised entirely of people with lived experience of homelessness, the YAC appoints its own members as outlined in the TPCH Youth Action Committee Governance Policy approved by the TPCH CoC Board in July 2020. YAC members are not elected during the annual election. Applications for the YAC will be forward directly to the YAC co-chairs for review.
Click here to apply for one or more vacant TPCH committee seats.
Fiscal Year 2022 Continuum of Care Program Grant Awards
On March 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development awarded $11,971,076 in Fiscal Year 2022 Continuum of Care Program funds to local homeless assistance programs in Tucson/Pima County.
The announcement renews 100% of funding for existing projects which were submitted to HUD in the FY 2022 annual funding competition as well as the addition of 3 new projects funded through CoC Bonus and Domestic Violence Bonus funding.
These new bonus project will provide 53 additional units of permanent supportive housing in the local Continuum of Care and improve Coordinated Entry services as they relate to meeting the supportive housing needs of persons fleeing domestic abuse.
Congratulations to TPCH member agencies awarded funds through the announcement!
City of Tucson
FY 2022 Continuum of Care Planning Grant ($326,266)
Shelter Plus Care II Consolidated ($2,293,740)
Tucson/Pima Coordinated Entry Project ($372,595)
Tucson/Pima Coordinated Entry - DV Expansion ($225,509)
Community Bridges, Inc.
CBI Pima Permanent Supportive Housing 37 ($543,776)
CBI YOURRH Project ($434,082)
Community Partnership of Southern Arizona
Frontiers ($225,303)
Medical Respite PSH ($260,154)
Shelter Plus Care TRA ($1,112,968)
Transitions PSH ($269,328)
Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse
RRH for Survivors of Domestic Abuse ($285,559)
Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona
Goodwill Metro/REC Reengagement Project for Homeless Youth ($147,699)
La Frontera Center
Sonora House - Safe Haven ($433,245)
Old Pueblo Community Services
Bread and Roses Transitional Housing ($432,000)
Oasis PSH ($214,712)
Oasis Expansion Project ($307,016)
Ocotillo ($162,525)
Our Family Services
Home Again ($736,882)
Homes First ($233,867)
Secure Futures ($339,117)
New Hope ($506,895)
Youth Care ($329,136)
Pima County
CASA ($469,845)
La Casita ($212,295)
One-Stop RRH ($224,069)
Pima County HMIS ($421,492)
Project Advent ($451,001)
The University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women has released its most recent update to its report on Housing Insecurity Indicators and Potential Homelessness Estimates for Arizona and Pima County. This report measures current housing insecurity with newer census data.
This most recent survey wave contains multiple pieces of concerning news.
There is continuing good news to report on rents.
| TPCH Newsletter - March 2023 |
IN THIS ISSUE ANNOUNCEMENTS Emergency Blankets Available to Agencies Who Serve People Experiencing Homelessness HUD Awards $315M in Grants to Address Unsheltered & Rural Homelessness RAPP (Readily Accessible People Program) has Moved Opportunity for Veterans with Current or Past Lived Experience National Alliance to End Homelessness BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) Collective Blueprint for Renters Bill of Rights U of A Southwest Institute for Research on Women Releases Census Updates to Housing Insecurity and Potential Homelessness Report TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TPCH Homeless Youth Coalition to host Part III of Foster Care Training Series: Policies and Programs Serving Older Youth Assistance Animals & Fair Housing: Navigating Reasonable Accommodations Finance for the Nonprofit Manager Free Virtual Human Trafficking Conference Emergency Blankets Available to Agencies Who Serve People Experiencing Homelessness TPCH has emergency blankets, and they are available for agencies to pick up at the City of Tucson Housing and Community Development Department located at 310 N Commerce Park Loop. Please follow signage to the northwest corner of the parking lot, inside the fenced area. Blanket distribution will take place every Monday from 10:00am-12:00pm, excluding holidays, until further notice. There is no need to make an appointment. But if your agency will be picking up 100+ boxes, please email tpch@tucsonaz.gov at least two business days prior to pick-up. HUD Awards $315M in Grants to Address Unsheltered & Rural Homelessness  You can read HUD’s announcement by clicking HUD Awards $315 Million in Historic Grants to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homelessness | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). $7.8M of this was awarded locally. You can get more details on how these funds are distributed by clicking Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness Receives $7.8M in NEW Federal Funds to Address Unsheltered Homelessness - Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness (tpch.net). RAPP (Readily Accessible People Program) has moved! RAPP is now located at the Center of Hope 4554 S Palo Verde Rd, just south of Gospel Rescue Mission- Center of Opportunity. No ID or insurance is needed to receive services. For details, see the attached flyer. You can also email RAPP@lafrontera.org for more information.  Opportunity for Veterans with Current or Past Lived Experience The VA National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans is seeking to collaborate with Veterans with lived experience to provide feedback on research related to Veterans’ health and housing. For more information, click Veteteran_Rep_Flyer-rev.pdf (endhomelessness.org). NAEH BIPOC Collective Using its platform to help communities think strategically about racial equity and be more inclusive, the National Alliance to End Homelessness has recently created the BIPOC Collective. The Collective comprises five Black and Brown leaders spread across the county. Its ultimate goal is to increase the diversity of ideas, solutions, and perspectives involved in the work to end homelessness through an equity lens. To learn more about the BIPOC Collective, click It’s Time to Elevate and Learn from BIPOC Leaders: Advancing Equity, Celebrating Black History Month - National Alliance to End Homelessness. Blueprint for Renters Bill of Rights On January 25, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration released a Blueprint for a Renter Bill of Rights, which articulates key principles of resident-centered housing provisions. In addition to releasing this blueprint document, the Administration released several new actions that agencies will take to strengthen tenant protections and avoid unnecessary evictions and launched a Resident-Centered Housing Challenge to encourage Congress, state, local and Tribal policymakers, and private housing actors to enhance or adopt policies and practices that promote fairness and transparency in the rental market. For more information please reference the following resources: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect Renters and Promote Rental Affordability - The White House White-House-Blueprint-for-a-Renters-Bill-of-Rights.pdf (whitehouse.gov) U of A Southwest Institute for Research on Women releases census updates to Housing Insecurity and Potential Homelessness Report The University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women has released its most recent update to its report on Housing Insecurity Indicators and Potential Homelessness Estimates for Arizona and Pima County. This report measures current housing insecurity with newer census data. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE. Resource Corner: Upcoming Tools, Trainings, and Resources TPCH and the City of Tucson Announce Part III of the three-part Foster Care Training Series and Family Unification Program Voucher Availability The Homeless Youth Coalition of TPCH is hosting its third and final segment of the three-part training series on Foster Care. Part III, Policies and Programs Serving Older Youth, will take place at the Goodwill Metro Re-engagement Center (REC) on Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 3-4:30pm. This training will be in person and pre-registration is required. Register here, or download the flier below for a QR code to register. A special part of this agenda will include staff from the City of Tucson Public Housing Authority, who will be sharing updates on the availability of Family Unification Vouchers, which serve youth exiting the foster care system. This program has immediate availability to enroll 75 eligible youth into housing. Assistance Animals & Fair Housing: Navigating Reasonable Accommodations The information presented in this webinar is intended to be an explanation of FHEO-2020-01, a guidance document which HUD issued to provide housing providers with a set of best practices for complying with the Fair Housing Act when assessing requests for reasonable accommodations for assistance animals. The webinar took place in December 2022, and is now available online. Click Assistance Animals and Fair Housing: Navigating Reasonable Accommodations Webinar - HUD Exchange to watch the 40-minute webinar. Finance for the Nonprofit Manager Join nonprofit managers, CEOs, and other leadership staff for an in-person workshop on Thursday, March 23rd from 8:00am - 4:00pm. Register using the link. There is a cost associated with this training. Free Virtual “Human Trafficking Conference” This 3-hour event is free and open to the public. Click here for more information and to register. MARCH EVENTS TPCH Meetings & Training Events Meetings and events are added regularly. Find details and locations on the TPCH calendar at https://www.tpch.net March 2, 3pm Homeless Youth Coalition TPCH Foster Care Training Series Part III: Policies and Programs Serving Older Youth March 8, 10:30am TPCH Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee March 10, 9am TPCH Built for Zero Coalition March 14, 1pm TPCH Community Outreach Coalition March 16, 9am TPCH Continuum of Care Program Grant Committee March 22, 3:30pm TPCH Youth Action Committee March 23, 1pm TPCH Coordinated Entry Committee March 29, 3pm TPCH Continuum of Care Board For the most up-to-date meeting information, visit the TPCH calendar at https://www.tpch.net. |