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DTP Connects

Homeless Outreach Program

In collaboration with various Tucson nonprofits, Downtown Tucson Partnership (DTP) is dedicated to assisting individuals experiencing homelessness.

Partnering with Community Bridges Inc. (CBI), individuals receive on-site interviews and assessments from CBI's community engagement specialists. Accompanied by a DTP Ambassador in the DTP Connects mobile unit, these specialists connect individuals to essential resources and support services while ensuring their information is accurately recorded in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). They also determine if individuals have completed the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization and Decision Assessment Tool (VI SPDAT), a crucial step for supportive housing eligibility. The mobile unit conducts outreach every Wednesday and Sunday, ensuring ongoing contact and support for those in need.

Are you a nonprofit service provider that would like to get involved? Email Russ Stone at russ@downtowntucson.org.

What else does DTP do to help individuals experiencing homelessness?

  • We provide water and/or electrolyte supplements
  • Community engagement specialists can provide care kits which can include, water, sunscreen, hygiene products and information on where to find food, shelter, and other services
  • We provide clothing items like new socks and underwear, and second-hand clothing like clean shoes, shirts, pants, hats and more - usually and graciously donated by ReThreads Thrift
  • DTP Ambassadors perform wellness checks on individuals who may be in distress or in need of help:
    • people laying face down and/or unconscious
    • people resting in direct sunlight for long periods of time
    • people displaying symptoms of overdose, especially opioid overdose
    • people with visible injuries
    • people who are visibly upset or crying
    • people or a group of people in an altercation
  • DTP Ambassadors will take action if a wellness check determines an individual requires additional assistance:
    • call 911 if someone requires emergency medical care
    • perform life-saving CPR until emergency medical personnel arrives
    • administer Naloxone nasal spray (Narcan) on someone with overdose symptoms
    • escort someone to a shaded area, shelter, heat respite center, soup kitchen or another service provider
    • attempt to de-escalate an altercation and/or continue to observe in case a situation turns violent
    • contact Tucson Police Downtown District officers if someone requires non-emergency law enforcement support
    • stay on-site and serve as a witness for either emergency medical care or law enforcement 

DTP Connects - an internationally awarded program

International Downtown Association (IDA) Presents Pinnacle Award Recognizing DTP Connects Program

DTP Ambassadors have taken the following trainings:

  • Narcan (Naloxone) Overdose Response Training through the Pima County Health Department, Community Mental Health and Addiction Program
  • De-Escalation Training through the Tucson Police Department

Past nonprofit partners of DTP Connects:

DTP Connects In The News: