Council Member Rocque Perez Supports Launch of First Outdoor Safe Sleeping Pilot for Unhoused

Council Member Rocque Perez approves and strongly supports the City of Tucson’s launch of STAR Village, the city’s first outdoor safe sleeping site for unhoused neighbors, as a pragmatic and compassionate step toward addressing homelessness.

STAR Village will operate on city-owned land along East Grant Road and will provide a managed outdoor sleeping space for up to 25 women and non-binary individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The site will include overnight staffing, daytime access for participants to cool off and charge devices, and coordinated case management and behavioral health services provided in partnership with Primavera Foundation, Old Pueblo Community Services, Gospel Rescue Mission, and La Frontera.

“Homelessness is not solved by looking away or pushing people from one corner to another,” Perez said. “It is solved by stabilizing people, connecting them to services, and creating clear pathways into permanent housing. STAR Village represents a thoughtful pilot rooted in safety, dignity, and accountability.”

Perez emphasized that the program reflects a balanced approach that prioritizes both neighborhood stability and humane treatment of unsheltered residents. The site will include on-site supervision and coordination with nonprofit service providers to ensure the program remains structured and outcome-driven.

“This pilot is about taking action instead of debating in circles,” Perez said. “We cannot continue to rely solely on enforcement or temporary displacement. We must create safe, managed spaces that reduce harm while we work to expand permanent housing solutions.”

The concept for STAR Village originated from community advocacy and was developed in coordination with local service providers who have long worked on the front lines of homelessness response. City leadership has committed to monitoring the pilot closely, incorporating community feedback, and evaluating outcomes as the program moves forward.

Perez reiterated that safe sleeping initiatives must be part of a broader housing strategy that includes expanded supportive housing, rental assistance, behavioral health services, and prevention programs.

“Our goal must always be permanent housing,” Perez said. “Safe sleeping is a stabilization tool — not the final destination. But stabilization is often the first critical step toward helping someone rebuild.”

The City anticipates welcoming its first participants this fall following community outreach and implementation planning.

For more information about volunteer opportunities and ways to support the program, residents may visit www.primavera.org.