Finding shelter for Tucson’s unhoused: What are the barriers? [Video]

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Two of Tucson’s largest homeless encampment hotspots are expected to be cleared out by the beginning of 2025. The areas reflect the city’s reported rise in unhoused individuals, and a lack of low-barrier housing.

The City of Tucson’s website lists factors of vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness, including:

• History in the criminal justice system
• Individuals with mental illness
• Domestic violence survivors
• Veterans 
• Race and ethnicity
• Youth 
• Chronic homelessness

Housing and Community Development’s “Housing First Approach” is described in the following steps: immediate access to housing without pre-conditions, participant choice and self determination, recovery orientation, individualized and participant-driven supports, and social community integration.Santa Rita Park was expected to close for renovations this fall, but that date has been pushed back to January 2025. The City of Tucson closed the park for a cleaning on Sept. 25, which motivated mutual aid groups like Community on Wheels to jump into action.

The group has advocated for Tucson’s unhoused populations for several years, and …