Trystan Hawkins knows how much life’s struggles can drain a person. She also knows that perseverance and faith in oneself can overcome those personal challenges.
Trystan, a 50-year-old single mom currently enrolled in HCD’s Family Self-Sufficiency program, recently was appointed to serve on the Public Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, as representative of her fellow public housing residents and HCV recipients.
In a humble voice, she said her achievements did not come without help from others. Her FSS cheerleaders had her back.
“The FSS team has been fabulous,” she said, adding a big shoutout to her FSS counselor, Angela Gallegos, a FSS project coordinator. “She is absolutely a godsend,” Trystan said.
Trystan, who lives on Tucson’s far southeast side, has been a Housing Choice Voucher recipient for the past three years.
FSS participants, who also include public housing residents, work with FSS staff to map out personal and professional goals in areas of education, employment, financial literacy, and homeownership. The overarching goal is for the participants to increase their income and lessen their dependency rental subsidies and other forms of public assistance.
Within the FSS program, 118 participants across both HCV and Low-Income Public Housing programs have been connected to community services and resources, and 49 households now have one or more adults employed, demonstrating meaningful progress toward self-sufficiency.
Trystan said a key in her progress and growth has been her close working relationship with Angela.
“I was able to stay motivated with all the roadblocks out there,” she said. “And there were many.”
One of her biggest challenges was finding a place to live, a place which would accept her housing voucher. Trystan, who is black, felt some prospective landlords and property managers discriminated against her because she was an HCV holder. But she persisted and, with her FSS team, she eventually found a comfortable place to live with her teenage son.
As she moves forward, with the goal of graduating from the FSS program, Trystan said a new goal is to be an effective and vocal member of the Board of Commissioners, advocating for public housing and HCV residents. She figures since others have helped her, she in turn will help others.
“I love doing what I do, helping the community. You have to be part of the community,” she said. “You can’t be an island.”
City of Tucson Issues Two RFPs for HOME Investment Partnership Funds
The City of Tucson Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) has released two Requests for Proposals (RFP) inviting developers and Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) to apply for HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds to assist with acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction of affordable rental housing and Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction of low-income homeownership housing.
Through this competitive process, HCD anticipates awarding up to approximately $2,000,000 of HOME funds for rental housing projects and up to $1,045,667 for homeownership projects.
Read more about the RFP applications
At the beginning of November, Ward 3 City Councilmember Kevin Dahl and various City of Tucson departments celebrated the opening of a new playground onsite at the Wildcat Inn. The Housing First shelter first opened in Tucson in 2022 and has been serving individuals and families who are transitioning into permanent housing.
In addition to the new playground, the project features a shade canopy, soft wood chip surfacing, an accessible walk area, native desert plants and green stormwater infrastructure from Storm to Shade.
WATCH: Wildcat Inn unveils new playground for kids and their families
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