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Tucson‑Pima continuum of care begins new strategic plan as homelessness grows more complex
Summary
The Tucson‑Pima Continuum of Care (TPCH) told supervisors it is drafting a five‑year strategic plan that prioritizes client experience, provider workforce capacity, system efficiency and cross‑sector collaboration after recent point‑in‑time data showed increases in chronic and complex homelessness.
The Tucson‑Pima Continuum of Care (TPCH) and county staff updated the Board of Supervisors July 31 on a new five‑year strategic plan designed to steer the local homeless response system.
TPCH lead‑team manager Kat Davis told the board that the plan will focus on four draft priorities: improving the individual client experience in the homeless response system; strengthening workforce capacity for homeless service providers; increasing system efficiency; and collaborating with external partners on multi‑sector solutions.
Why it matters: TPCH funding is a major source of supportive housing and homeless services in Pima County. At the meeting officials said the most recent point‑in‑time survey shows the overall homeless population has stabilized, but the share of people with chronic homelessness, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders has increased — making outreach, shelter and housing operations more resource‑intensive.
What TPCH and county staff said - Kat Davis, TPCH lead team manager, described TPCH as an independent, volunteer‑governed coalition that ranks and allocates HUD Continuum‑of‑Care funds, conducts needs assessment and provides system infrastructure. She said TPCH is responsible for $14.5 million in upcoming Continuum of Care awards, with roughly $12.3 million for housing subsidies and the balance for supportive services and lead‑agency costs. - Jan Lesher, county administrator, said county staff will coordinate with TPCH and invite each supervisor’s office to give input on the draft plan; the county will also align its shelter feasibility work with TPCH planning. - Davis said a public survey and a comment period will open later this summer and fall before the board and TPCH finalize the plan.
Questions from supervisors focused on service mix and partnerships Supervisors asked how TPCH serves people with severe mental illness and substance use disorders and how the system coordinates medical and behavioral health interventions with outreach and housing. Davis and county officials said that many people experiencing homelessness have co‑occurring needs, and that multi‑disciplinary outreach — pairing medical or substance‑use providers with outreach staff — is an increasingly common model in Pima County to triage crises and stabilize people prior to housing placement.
Next steps TPCH will publish a public survey to allow residents and stakeholders to rank goals and propose actions. TPCH staff said they will bring a draft strategic plan back for formal public comment later this year. County staff said they will meet individually with supervisor offices to collect input.
