Finding help in Tucson
Pima County is home to roughly 3,000 or more people experiencing homelessness on any given night, a number that reflects both the region's housing affordability pressures and the complex needs of people living on the margins. The Primavera Foundation has been a cornerstone organization in Tucson's response to homelessness for decades — providing shelter, transitional housing, and economic opportunity programs that address both immediate needs and longer-term stability. Tucson's service landscape is smaller than Phoenix's but deeply community-rooted, and most programs operate with a low-barrier, people-first approach.
The fastest way to get help
Call or text 211. Arizona 211 operates around the clock and can connect you with shelters, food, health care, and other services in the Tucson area. Navigators speak Spanish and can locate what is available tonight based on your location. You can call from any phone — no smartphone required.
If you need a place to sleep tonight and can't get through by phone, try walking in to one of the shelters listed below during intake hours. Most programs in Tucson accept walk-ins, particularly in the evenings. Calling ahead when possible helps, but it is not required at most locations.
For people arriving in Tucson who are asylum seekers or migrants, Casa Alitas — operated by Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona — provides short-term welcome services and shelter specifically for people recently released from immigration detention or crossing at the border. They can also help connect people to longer-term local resources.
Emergency shelter in Tucson
These are the main shelter options for people experiencing homelessness in Tucson and Pima County:
Primavera Foundation
Primavera is one of Tucson's most established and comprehensive organizations working on homelessness. They operate emergency shelter for adults, transitional housing, a work program, and rapid rehousing services. Their approach emphasizes employment and economic empowerment alongside housing stability. Primavera is a good first stop if you're newly experiencing homelessness in Tucson and need to understand all your options.
Phone: (520) 623-5111
Website: primavera.org
Who they serve: Adults experiencing homelessness; various programs for different needs
Gospel Rescue Mission
Gospel Rescue Mission provides emergency shelter, meals, and recovery programs for men experiencing homelessness in Tucson. They offer overnight shelter with beds available on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as longer-term recovery and discipleship programs for those who want them. Faith-based but services are open to all.
Address: 1002 S. 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85713
Phone: (520) 740-1501
Who they serve: Men; emergency shelter and longer-term recovery programs
Casa Alitas
Casa Alitas, operated by Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, provides a temporary welcome center for asylum seekers and migrants who have recently crossed the border or been released from detention. While it is not a general homelessness shelter, it serves a critical population in Tucson and can connect people to local resources. If you or someone you know has recently arrived and needs orientation to local services, Casa Alitas is the right starting point.
Phone: (520) 623-0344 (Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona)
Who they serve: Asylum seekers, migrants, recently released from immigration detention
Food resources in Tucson
Several programs in Tucson provide free meals and groceries to anyone who needs them. No appointment, no documentation, and no questions required at most locations.
Casa Maria Soup Kitchen
Casa Maria is one of Tucson's most reliable daily meal programs. They have served the community for decades without conditions or paperwork — just food for anyone who shows up. The kitchen operates every day of the year.
Address: 401 E. 26th St., Tucson, AZ 85713
Hours: Daily meals — call to confirm current serving times
Who they serve: Anyone; no ID or documentation required
Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is the primary food bank serving Pima County and the surrounding region. They operate direct distribution programs and support a network of partner agencies across the area. If you need groceries to take with you rather than a prepared meal, the food bank and its partner sites are the place to look.
Main location: 3003 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85713
Phone: (520) 622-0525
Hours: Vary by site; call or check their website for the closest distribution near you
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish operates food assistance programs on Tucson's south side, including a food pantry and other community support services. They serve the neighborhood regardless of religious affiliation. Call ahead for current hours and distribution schedule.
Phone: (520) 741-0100
Who they serve: Anyone in need; south-side Tucson focus
Health care in Tucson
You do not need insurance or an address to access health care in Tucson. These programs are built for people in unstable housing situations.
El Rio Community Health Center
El Rio is one of the largest federally qualified health centers in Arizona and serves patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, using a sliding-fee scale. They provide primary care, dental services, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. El Rio operates multiple clinic locations across Tucson and is a primary care home for many low-income and unhoused residents.
Main clinic: 839 W. Congress St., Tucson, AZ 85745
Phone: (520) 670-3909
Hours: Monday–Friday, with extended hours at some locations; call for current schedule
La Mariposa clinic
La Mariposa Health provides care to underserved communities in Tucson, including people experiencing homelessness. Their services include primary medical care and referrals to specialty care, with a particular focus on patients who face barriers to mainstream health systems. They work on a sliding-fee basis and accept AHCCCS.
Phone: (520) 298-0200
Who they serve: Underserved adults; people experiencing homelessness welcome
AHCCCS — Arizona Medicaid
Many people experiencing homelessness qualify for AHCCCS (Arizona's Medicaid program), which covers primary care, mental health, dental care, and substance use treatment at no cost. You can apply without a permanent address. Apply online at healthearizonaplus.gov or call (855) HEA-PLUS. A navigator at 211 can walk you through the process if you need help.
Mental health and recovery services
Tucson has several major behavioral health providers that serve people experiencing homelessness, including those without insurance or a fixed address.
La Frontera Center
La Frontera EMPACT is one of Arizona's largest behavioral health organizations and a major provider of mental health and substance use services in Pima County. They provide outpatient treatment, crisis stabilization, and intensive community support for adults with serious mental illness. La Frontera is one of the go-to organizations for people who need ongoing mental health support while navigating housing instability. Phone: (520) 838-3945.
Behavioral Health Agency of Southern Arizona (BHASA)
BHASA provides behavioral health services across southern Arizona, including in Pima County. They focus on community-based mental health support and can connect people experiencing homelessness with treatment that does not require insurance. For current program information, contact them through the 211 referral system or directly through the Pima County behavioral health network.
Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA)
CPSA is the Regional Behavioral Health Authority for Pima County — meaning they are the organization that manages and coordinates behavioral health funding and services across the region. While most people will access services through La Frontera or other direct providers, CPSA is the oversight body that makes those services available. If you're navigating the system and having trouble finding the right program, calling CPSA can help you get directed to the correct resource. Phone: (520) 318-6000.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). For a mobile mental health response in Tucson, call the Southern Arizona Mental Health Crisis Line at (520) 622-6000. This connects you to a crisis counselor, not a police dispatcher.
For case managers and providers
If you are a case manager, social worker, or service provider working in Pima County, the Tucson CoC Navigator on Common Ladder provides a searchable directory of the full Tucson-area service landscape. You can filter by population, service type, and geography to find the right match for your clients quickly.
Search and filter every shelter, food program, health clinic, and housing resource across Pima County — free to use, with the last-verified date shown on the page.
Open the Tucson Navigator →Know of a Tucson resource we missed or have an update? Contact us — we keep this directory current.