Arizona housing department announces $40M for rural transitional homes

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Housing announced Monday it will provide $40 million to transform existing buildings into hundreds of new homes for people experiencing homelessness in rural communities.

The funds will be used to purchase several buildings which will be converted and repurposed to provide up to 500 transitional homes, according to a press release.

“Today’s targeted, one-time investment will help Arizonans who’ve fallen on hard times get back on their feet,” Gov. Doug Ducey said in the release.

“Additional transitional housing in rural communities will help struggling families and individuals get access to safe housing in their own community as they transition to a permanent, reliable home.”

Tom Simplot, director of Arizona’s housing department, in the release said conversion projects of existing buildings for transitional homes are quicker and tend to be smaller.

“Smaller campuses have shown to be more successful in reducing the numbers of unsheltered homeless and placing them in permanent housing than large congregate shelters,” Simplot said.

“Having bridge housing in rural communities also allows those experiencing homelessness to stay in their communities instead of traveling sometimes far distances to receive needed services. This also helps with increasing exit rates to permanent housing.”

The department said it is reviewing funding options in Flagstaff, Cottonwood and Page, in addition to opportunities in other rural communities.

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