TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — With Arizona's numbers on homelessness skyrocketing, agencies across the state are working to address issues connected to affordable housing, services for unhoused individuals and related community concerns.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s 2022 report to Congress shows the state's homeless population grew by 23% from 2020 to 2022, identifying Arizona as one of 27 states where the number of people experiencing homelessness increased during that time.
Pima County is preparing to conduct its 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) count on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Led by the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness, the count will be one of several across the country taking place that week. Some objectives of the count are:
- to conduct interviews with unhoused individuals experiencing homelessness about where they slept the previous night
- to "help inform a national understanding of homelessness"
- to produce a standardized set to data for national use
The count collects data used in the HUD report, and helps provide local insight to government agencies, non-profits, religious groups and other service providers that strategize to end homelessness in the area.
The Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness is looking for volunteers to help with the count in multiple roles, including interviewers, supply runners and administrative support. Volunteer registration is required, and available on the website.
Volunteers will be trained prior to the count.
The 2023 Everyone Counts! Pima County Street Count is on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 25.
— Dept. of Housing & Community Development (@TucsonHCD) January 11, 2023
Join us help to end homelessness in our community! Register: https://t.co/G9xjtVjNAg pic.twitter.com/8FbvE9lgEb
Gov. Katie Hobbs says addressing homelessness is a high priority for her administration, as well. Her second executive order after taking office re-established an interagency council on homelessness and housing.
Hobbs told KGUN 9:
That's gonna go a long way towards building partnerships to work together on solutions, how the state can be a better partner, working with local communities, how we can free up resources and eliminate red tape that's keeping communities from building more affordable housing.
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Anne Simmons is the digital executive producer for KGUN 9. Anne got her start in television while still a student at the University of Arizona. Before joining KGUN, she managed multiple public access television stations in the Bay Area and has worked as a video producer in the non-profit sector. Share your story ideas and important issues with Anne by emailing anne.simmons@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.
