At the March 18 Mayor and Council meeting, $2.1 million in HOME Investment Partnership funds were approved (Item F on the Consent Agenda) to support four affordable housing projects across Tucson. These developments will provide much-needed housing for seniors, families, and individuals with low to moderate incomes. 

Funded Projects: 

• Presidio on Main (Ward 1) – $500,000 for a 50-unit senior housing community (rents at 50-80% AMI). 

• Lariat Village (Ward 5) – $350,000 for a 120-unit multi-family development (rents at 30-70% AMI) 

• Elstone II (Ward 5) – $750,000 for Phase 1 of a single-family rental project (rents at 60% AMI). 

• Shasta Apartments (Ward 3) – $500,000 for Phase 2 of a 100-unit supportive senior housing community (rents at 40-60% AMI). 

Projects were scored by the City’s Commission on Equitable Housing and Development at their meeting on January 8, 2025, before Mayor and Council approval. 

The HOME Investment Partnership Program provides funding for affordable housing projects, down payment assistance, and housing counseling services to support Tucson residents. 

📢 Stay tuned for more updates! Additional funding recommendations for General Fund and other sources will be decided at an upcoming Mayor & Council meeting. 

The City of Tucson’s Commission on Equitable Housing and Development held a Mini Retreat on Friday, March 28. At the Mini Retreat, commissioners collaborated to identify priority issues and develop action plans to guide their work. Homelessness was priority issue selected by the commission to focus and develop action plans surrounding prevention, housing options, and services (including decriminalization and harm reduction). 

In small groups, commissioners outlined key objectives, gathered information needs, and identified stakeholders essential to each initiative. They also mapped out tasks, steps, and timelines to ensure progress. The retreat concluded with a full commission discussion, where each group shared their action plans and next steps. Commissioners will provide report outs from these small group sessions at a future commission meeting. 

Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/oMxl8ne97aI 

April is Fair Housing Month! A time we recognize the importance of equal access to housing for all. The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination based on: 

• Race 

• Color 

• National Origin 

• Religion 

• Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation) 

• Disability 

• Familial Status (such as having children or being pregnant) 

• Source of Income (including rental assistance such as Housing Choice Voucher Program, Rapid Rehousing, and other federal, state, or local assistance programs) 

Fair housing means everyone has the right to live where they choose, free from discrimination. This month, we reaffirm our commitment to equal housing opportunities for all! 

Building and Operating Housing: 

• Milagro on Oracle, a 63-unit senior housing complex, was completed—the city’s first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project in a decade. 

• Over 1,100 new housing units are in the pipeline through El Pueblo Housing Development. 

Providing Housing Assistance: 

• 5,500 HUD Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly known as Section 8) helped City of Tucson and Pima County residents with housing. 

• 105 total Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program participants in 2024, seeking assistance to achieve financial independence. 

• An $11.5 million Preservation and Reinvestment Initiatives for Community Enhancement (PRICE) grant was awarded from HUD for energy efficiency upgrades and eviction prevention for mobile home residents. The City of Tucson is expected to receive these funds in summer 2025. 

Solving Homelessness: 

• 7,200 care packages were distributed to people experiencing homelessness. 

• 152 adults and 57 children were housed at the Wildcat Inn and 140 people were temporarily housed at the Amazon Inn during the 15 months before Phase I construction.  

• 1,146 showers were provided through the mobile shower unit. 

Investing in Community: 

• The updated People, Communities, and Homes Investment Plan (P-CHIP) will serve as HCD’s strategic plan and guide funding for the next five years.

• A new $500k Choice Neighborhoods planning grant from HUD will help plan future redevelopment in the 29th Street Thrive Zone.

Read the Annual Report: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Housing-and-Community-Development/HCD-News/City-of-Tucson-Housing-Community-Development-Releases-2024-Annual-Report