How to help those in need of housing assistance for the holidays

As 2025 draws to a close, Old Pueblo Community Services (OPCS) has issued an urgent appeal to the public as it supports clients experiencing the repercussions of cuts by the U.S. Department of Housing and Human Development (HUD).

“The fact of the matter is that what homelessness looks like next year in our community depends on what the community gives to support homeless solutions,” said Tom Litwicki, Chief Executive Officer of OPCS.

Litwicki said that at the beginning of 2025, OPCS managed more than 400 apartment units that were supported by federal vouchers for rental assistance; the number of units has now been reduced to 260. Only 130 of those have funding after April 1, 2026, creating a gap of $300,000 that OPCS hopes to fill through donations from the public.

“HUD has cut the funding for housing vouchers — or what people call rental subsidies — so we don’t have the vouchers to put people into permanent housing and we are expecting to see massive cuts again next year. All together, the cuts to rental subsidies are going to be between $7 million and $8 million for Pima County,” he said.

The cuts have real-world impact for the entire community, according to Litwicki.

“The most recent projection is that 700 people will be impacted," Litwicki said. "We will see two things happen: A lot of people will be evicted because the rental assistance ends and people who would be moving into housing will be stuck on the streets and in shelters."

Providing stable housing is the foundation of the “housing first” model embraced by OPCS since 1996.

This year, it served nearly 3,000 individuals and families and 53 pets — as well as 150 veterans through its newly-expanded Veterans Center at 3701 E. Third St.

Overall, in 2025, OPCS provided a total of 56,000-plus bed-nights in shelter and transitional housing facilities and helped more than 300 clients attain permanent housing.

The services include much more than just housing assistance and extend to treatment for mental and behavioral health, addiction and assistance with job training and life skills.

“We have provided intensive outpatient treatment to 286 people and have delivered more than 50,000 hours of support services such as case management, counseling, employment assistance and life skills training," Litwicki said. " '‘Housing first’ doesn’t mean housing only. By design, (the model) includes many treatments and services, which many people don’t realize."

He emphasized that research has shown the effectiveness of the OPCS philosophy, which can be counterintuitive to many people. It is based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which prioritizes physiological needs such as food, shelter and other basic needs before safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization.

“A lot of people would rather that people prove they deserve housing before they get permanent housing, but permanent housing is the beginning. It leads people to be able to go into treatment and get the services they need. They need stability first,” he said.

He believes that examining research and facts about effective models for eradicating homelessness is imperative in every political climate.

“I push people to look at evidence," Litwicki said. "We don’t want to know what a heart surgeon thinks is a good surgery: We want what the research says works well. With social services, people often want to provide what they think is right, and as professionals, we should provide what is most efficient and effective."

Addressing homelessness among women effectively is also a priority for Sister José Women’s Center, a shelter for women 18 and older located at 1050 S. Park Ave.

The Center serves an average of 73 women during the day and an additional 54 overnight.

“We provide access to showers, laundry, food, clothing, case management and assistance with resources and referrals for health care and housing navigation. Women are also allowed to bring two companion pets with them and we give them pet food if they need that,” said Sabrina Lobato-Gonzales, Director of Development for the center.

For day guests, the center provides breakfast and lunch, along with space for respite, and then a take-away meal and snacks.

“We shut down the lights in the multipurpose room at noon so they can rest ... sometimes that is the only time they sleep because when they are out on the streets, they are not sleeping,” Lobato-Gonzales said.

The center is experiencing a rise in homeless clients age 55 and older, with a 30% increase in that population over the past year. Lobato-Gonzales said that local affordable senior housing options have a four-year waiting list.

“The economy is crazy right now and rents have gone up tremendously in Pima County, so our clients are priced out of housing," she said. "The average Social Security check is $900 a month and they can’t pay $1,200 a month in rent, so we try to help them figure out where to go next."

In addition to in-kind donations of supplies such as clothing, sleeping bags, tents, and hygiene items, the center requests monetary contributions — which may qualify for the QCO Tax Credit for Arizona residents — to support its services.