Hope in the Park, a one-day one-stop resource fair for unhoused people is returning to Rudy Garcia Park at 5001 South Nogales highway on Nov. 7th.
Organizers from the City of Tucson Housing First program are expecting to help hundreds of people at the event. Resources will include haircuts, showers, medical services, housing waitlists, and legal services.
Thelma Magallanes, project supervisor for the City of Tucson Multi-Disciplinary Outreach Team said the initiative is necessary for unsheltered individuals to take the next step in their lives.
“Our goal is to provide essential services to the unsheltered community, things that sometimes we take for granted,” she said. “There are people that don’t have the money to go get a picture ID. Or they don’t have access to a haircut or clothing, and that’s why they are not able to move forward with other plans in life.”
Tucson City Court Magistrate Ryan Bleau will address warrants, schedule court dates and provide general information to the unhoused. He said the unusual court format works for unhouse people.
“The non-traditional court setting lends itself for individuals to be more open to engage with the court,” Bleau said. “Meeting out in public creates a much more welcoming and positive environment.”
Bleau added that if unhoused people cannot attend the event, they can find resources at the City of Tucson’s Community Court, including the Homeless ID project and Hope Inc, during 1:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Fridays.
Hope in the Park will fill Rudy Garcia Park on November 7th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
