Christie Lee: Bridging the gap from crisis management to homelessness prevention

The joint meeting between the Tucson City Council and the Pima County Board of Supervisors on November 18 was a critical step in addressing unsheltered homelessness and fentanyl abuse as interconnected parts of a single humanitarian emergency requiring coordinated action.

As an organization that has provided housing and stability for Tucson’s most vulnerable residents for over 50 years, we must point out a critical gap in the current plan: the missing emphasis on long-term prevention through economic self-sufficiency.

While addressing the visible crisis by expanding shelter capacity and increasing outreach is necessary, we must simultaneously invest in proven methods that stop individuals from falling into homelessness in the first place. This requires coupling affordable, stable housing with comprehensive support services, particularly job training and supported employment.

Research across the U.S. and Canada, notably in studies of the Housing First model, proves that housing is the foundational human need. It is impossible to treat addiction, mental health issues, or find sustainable employment when a person is constantly struggling to survive on the streets. As a cornerstone of our mission at TMM, we provide that stable, affordable home, giving residents the vital platform they need to rebuild.

The TMM Difference: Beyond Shelter, Towards Stability

A home alone is not enough to break the cycle of poverty and housing insecurity. Our most successful outcomes occur when stability is paired with the tools for economic independence. Research demonstrates that job training programs for formerly homeless populations lead to a significant increase in employment rates and, critically, enhanced housing stability.

This is why, through our integrated programs, such as our Family Journey Initiative, TMM doesn’t just offer transitional housing; we connect residents with essential education and the life skills training needed for long-term success.

We must acknowledge that simply providing a key to a door is not enough. Without addressing the underlying unstable patterns — which often lead to costly unit destruction, infestation, and subsequent eviction — we contribute to the very affordable housing shortage we aim to solve. The costliest reason for this eviction cycle is unit damage, leading to significant repair expenses and lost rent opportunities. The TMM model is designed to instill property stewardship and stable tenancy skills as core program components, dramatically reducing turnover and preserving existing affordable housing stock. Our coaching includes regular unit inspections, educational sessions on basic home maintenance and cleanliness, and hands-on training for budgeting utilities, ensuring residents possess the essential skills to successfully manage a home before independent leasing.

Eliminating Barriers to Independence

To truly launch families into self-sufficiency, TMM is tackling structural barriers head-on. Our new Workforce Development (WFD) center, conveniently located on campus, eliminates the triple barrier of transportation, childcare, and time. This single step allows a working single mom to dedicate precious hours to education and career development that would otherwise be lost to logistics.

Our WFD center’s curriculum starts with the fundamentals essential for improving one’s life. Poverty strips away access to basic knowledge, so we provide guidance on:

• Mastering complex application processes (housing, employment, scholarships).

• Gaining access to proper tools, like a desktop computer, critical for drafting a professional resume. We dedicate time to teaching financial literacy, walking families through credit building, understanding predatory lending, and accessing local and national scholarship opportunities that open the door to sustainable careers.

We welcome partnerships to join us in this initiative.

Sustaining Success: Preventing the Return to Poverty

The journey to stability doesn't end when a family graduates. The statistics are sobering: slipping back into poverty is common without a robust, long-term support system. TMM addresses this by advocating for and providing transitional housing beyond the initial family journey program, coupled with lifelong coaching. This critical, final step ensures graduates maintain financial accountability and have a trusted resource to prevent a temporary crisis from turning into a relapse back into instability.

By integrating housing, economic empowerment, and lifelong support, TMM offers a proven model for homelessness prevention. It’s time for our community to shift more resources to programs that don't just manage the crisis on our streets but offer a definitive path to permanent self-sufficiency for our most vulnerable families.