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County reports 12 encampment clearances and 37 tons of debris under expedited 1 Pima protocol
Summary
County staff reported early results of the 1 Pima encampment protocol: contractor crews cleared 12 sites between Dec. 9 and Dec. 31, removing roughly 37 tons of debris at a cost of about $37,000; staff emphasized coordinated outreach, expanded training and the Jan. 28 point-in-time count.
Pima County officials gave an update on Jan. 20 on the 1 Pima homelessness initiative and the board-approved master agreement for expedited cleanup along county waterways.
Senior advisor Jen Darling said work under the master agreement began in earnest the week of Dec. 9 and that contractor crews cleared 12 sites through Dec. 31, collecting just over 37 tons of debris at a total cost of about $37,000. The contract is intended to provide expedited cleanup within 72 hours of site outreach and posting when encampments are verified in waterways under regional flood-control maintenance responsibility.
Darling also summarized staff feedback from site's four full-time personnel implementing the enhanced protocol: the team reported positive coordination across departments but requested additional trauma-informed training and day-of-remediation outreach support to better serve people encountered during clearances. County staff participate in biweekly implementation meetings with the City of Tucson and partner agencies to coordinate efforts near the Chuck Huckleberry Loop and other hotspots.
Darling noted the 2026 point-in-time count will take place on Jan. 28; preliminary anecdotal results were expected in early March. She also described continuing HUD funding-competition developments: a recent federal court order has required reopening last year's HUD competition under prior program rules, meaning the county will monitor opportunities but may face administrative pivots in the coming months.
Next steps include continued coordination with city partners, expanded staff training, tracking of cleanup metrics and participation in the point-in-time count.
