Letter: Potential Strategies for Addressing Homelessness

As MPH students at the UA Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, we are writing to express our concerns regarding the homelessness crisis in Tucson. We believe the growing lack of funding for services alongside strict eligibility requirements in many shelters contribute to a critical situation. We suggest that Tucson consider Houston’s approach to addressing homelessness. Houston shelters implemented the Housing First model, which provides permanent housing to individuals without prerequisites such as sobriety. This strategy involved collaboration between local government and nonprofits, enabling Houston to reduce its homeless population by 64% from 2011 to 2022. While not all aspects of Houston’s model may be suitable for Tucson, it is certainly worth exploring.