TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — Recent findings from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that homelessness is on the rise across the nation.Some 653,000 Americans are currently experiencing homelessness.Arizona has seen a 29% increase since 2020, leaving over half of the homeless population without shelter.The increase in homelessness can be attributed to the escalating costs of housing and the rise in inflation.Local shelters are stepping up their efforts to make a difference.”These are good people like us who have fallen on hard times.” Nicola Heartmann, CEO of the Sister Jose Women’s Center said.”They’re hiding, they’re not in plain view, but homelessness is a prevalent situation that’s going on here in Tucson, and it’s only going to get worse,” Christopher Kim, Captain of the Salvation Army, stated.Kim suggests a model similar to one implemented in Los Angeles, where designated areas with containers, each converted into an apartment, provide shelter for the homeless.”To just stick somebody who’s suffering from drug addiction and mental health in a home, that’s not an answer,” CEO of the Center of Opportunity Lisa Chastain said.
By Zachary Jackson
The city of Tucson is taking steps to address the crisis through a Housing First Initiative.”We’re always trying to get to a functional zero. I mean, that would be our goal, to get everyone housed, but we are making incremental steps. The city has put forward quite a bit of resources to get affordable housing built in the next coming years.” Mari Vasquez, Multi-Agency Resource Coordinator for the City of Tucson and Pima County, explained.The bottom line according to shelter leaders is that more services are needed.“It has to be wrap-around services, it has to be mental health support, it has to be drug rehab,” Heartmann said.
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