In Tucson, Arizona, emergency motel vouchers are primarily distributed through coordinated community agencies and local non-profit organizations, rather than being issued directly at motels upon request. Funding for these programs fluctuates significantly, and priority is often given to families with children, the elderly, or individuals with specific medical vulnerabilities.
Core Community Helplines (Start Here)
To find out which agency currently has funds for motel vouchers or available emergency shelter beds, you should contact the coordination center or complete a coordinated housing assessment:
2-1-1 Arizona: Dial 2-1-1 from any phone or visit the 2-1-1 Arizona website. They maintain the most up-to-date records on local crisis funding and weather-related emergency programs.
City of Tucson “Housing First” Program: Call 520-559-6829 to check for immediate emergency shelter availability at city-owned properties. You can also complete a full housing assessment in person at the Sullivan Jackson Employment Center (400 E 26th Street; 520-724-7300).
Organizations Providing Vouchers & Shelter
The following local entities manage emergency housing assistance and may provide short-term hotel or motel vouchers, depending on current funding availability:
The Salvation Army Tucson Hospitality House
The Salvation Army Tucson Hospitality House prioritizes the use of its 114 emergency shelter beds and family apartments; however, it uses temporary motel vouchers primarily to keep families with children safely housed together when its main facilities or family suites are fully occupied.
Vouchers are distributed strictly based on a vulnerability assessment and available funds; they are not issued simply by showing up to request general housing.
Intake and Access Rules
Beds and Check-in: The admission process for an overnight shelter spot takes place daily. You may call ahead to check availability. People often begin lining up outside at 2:00 PM for the admission window, which runs from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Family Profile: The program accepts single adults, women with children, and complete families. Please note that children over the age of 10 may be subject to separate housing restrictions, depending on available space at the facility at the time.
Requirements: You must present valid photo identification to complete the admission process. Basic Rules: Participants must be able to move about independently (fully ambulatory) and must not have an active ban from the facility.
Weather-Related Shelter (Protection from Cold and Heat)
If you do not secure a voucher or an overnight bed, the facility operates as a daytime shelter location:
Heat Protection (Summer): Operates as a daytime cooling center during extreme heat waves, offering water, sun protection items, and air-conditioned shelter.
Cold weather protection (winter): Provides temporary mats or cots under the “Operation Deep Freeze” initiative on nights when local temperatures drop to freezing.
Primavera Foundation
The Primavera Foundation does not distribute hotel or motel vouchers directly to the public on a walk-in basis. Instead, emergency housing and temporary vouchers are managed through its centralized housing intake system and specialized transitional programs.
Since its main Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (HIP) center—located at 702 S. 6th Ave—is currently closed for major long-term reconstruction, all in-person services and walk-in intake have been relocated a short distance away to 811 S. 6th Ave.
To obtain emergency shelter or arrange for vouchers, you must follow the procedures for specific Primavera programs:
Primavera Men’s Shelter
Offers immediate emergency housing—with stays ranging from 7 nights to 60 days—for eligible adult men. To secure a bed, you must call promptly at 9:00 a.m. each morning to check the list of available spots for that night.
Phone: 520-623-4300
Address: 200 E Benson Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85713
Family Pathways Program
This program handles rapid rehousing and transitional assistance for homeless families. Call the main resource center at 520-623-5111 to schedule an eligibility assessment. If you are a woman with children in need of immediate physical shelter (for the same day) and Primavera’s family units are full, staff will typically refer you to the Gospel Rescue Mission Women & Children’s Center at 520-740-1501.
Project Action for Veterans
Offers specialized funding for rapid rehousing, case management, and short-term emergency housing solutions, specifically for honorably discharged veterans.
Phone: 520-308-3093
Address: 3504 S 6th Ave, Suite 150, Tucson, AZ 85713
Casa Paloma Women’s Shelter
An emergency shelter and 90-day stay program for single women. In-person eligibility assessments are conducted Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Participants must be fully independent in their activities of daily living and have no active medical wounds.
Checklist: What to bring
If your emergency intake appointment is approved, you must present physical or digital copies of the following:
- Photo identification for all adults in the household.
- Social Security cards for all household members.
- Birth certificates or proof of citizenship for children.
- Proof of eviction or financial hardship (such as a 5-day eviction notice, documentation of job loss, or unexpected medical bills).
Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona
Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona (CCS) offers long-term housing stabilization services, counseling, and crisis case management; however, it does not issue emergency hotel or motel vouchers directly to walk-ins at its corporate headquarters. Instead, physical emergency housing solutions are managed centrally through local partner properties and structured programs.
The main corporate office handles administrative processing and intake for specialized case management, either by phone or by appointment.
Housing and Crisis Care Programs
Pio Decimo Center (Transitional Housing)
This is the primary hub for the CCS housing stabilization program for low-income families. It offers a structured transitional program lasting 12 to 36 months, aimed at families with at least one dependent minor under the age of 18.
What it offers: Furnished apartments with utilities included, available for a significantly reduced monthly program fee (approximately $546 per month).
Strict requirements: Participants must maintain stable employment or attend school, actively save 10% of their discretionary income, and complete mandatory financial literacy courses.
Phone: 520-622-2801
Address: 848 S. 7th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
Residential Services and Services for the Deaf
CCS manages specialized community housing properties, group homes, and supportive living environments designed specifically for vulnerable adults or individuals with physical or developmental disabilities. Access to these services generally requires an active referral from the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES).
Phone: 520-792-1906
Document Check for Housing Assistance
If you meet the requirements to submit a physical application for Pio Decimo transitional housing units or general case management services, you must gather and email the following to TH@ccs-soaz.org:
- A fully completed CCS transitional housing application (available online via the CCS Pio Decimo portal).
- Proof of income confirming the household does not exceed 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
- Verification of active employment or enrollment in a vocational training program.
- Identification documents and Social Security records for all dependents under the age of 18.
Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse
If you or someone you know is facing housing instability due to domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, do not go to general shelters; call Emerge immediately. They manage specialized emergency safety vouchers and immediate confidential shelter.
24-hour helpline: 520-795-4266 or 888-428-0101
What you will need for the intake process
When contacting a case manager to secure emergency housing or arrange shelter admission, try to have the following documentation ready, if possible:
- Photo identification for all adults in the household.
- Social Security cards or birth certificates for children.
- Proof of income or documentation verifying your current financial crisis (such as an eviction notice or medical records).
