On the heels of innovative leadership in criminal justice reform, Pima County's Housing First program, under the direction of the Justice Services Department, has garnered national applause. The initiative was awarded the 2024 Best in Category accolade for Criminal Justice and Public Safety by the National Association of Counties (NACo), as officially reported on July 14 during NACo’s Annual Conference and Exposition in Florida's Hillsborough County. This recognition celebrates the program's exceptional service in aiding residents, specifically those entangled in the justice system and grappling with chronic homelessness and co-occurring disorders.
Since its inception in 2019, the Housing First endeavor has boldly addressed the pressing issue of homelessness amongst individuals exiting the jail system. According to Pima County's Newsroom, the program's multifaceted approach includes not just securing stable living circumstances but also integrating comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment services. Kate Vesely, the director of the Justice Services department, highlighted the collaborative brilliance that catapulted the programming to success: "We knew that there was an issue, but it took a high level of collaboration and innovation to create this type of programming." The Housing First model, reframed through a criminal justice lens, personifies the standards of national best practice.
Community partners, which feature the City of Tucson and Old Pueblo Community Services, have contributed significantly to the on-the-ground efforts. Their hard work has facilitated profound personal achievements for program participants—achievements that include employment, regained custody of children, and meaningful community engagement. Reflecting on the importance of these partnerships, Vesely stated in a statement obtained by Pima County's Newsroom, that their staff "have been in the trenches working with individuals who now have employment, custody of their children, and are making a meaningful impact in the community."
Since 2019, roughly 500 individuals, referred by the justice system, have enrolled in the Pima County Housing First program. Encompassing more than just a route to housing, this initiative is remarkably supplemented by criminal justice case managers who diligently assist individuals in adhering to court requirements and resolving outstanding legal issues. By July 1, the entire program became fully funded by grants and community partners. "I think NACo recognized us not only for the program’s exceptional results, but for our innovation in finding a more diversified funding portfolio, making it more sustainable," Vesely told Pima County's Newsroom.
