This story was originally published on July 26, 2021.
A former nunnery turned halfway house is providing a housing bridge for people who are homeless.
The city of Tucson bought Desert Cove Country Club, 1835 W. Anklam Road, for $1.2 million with federal pandemic relief funds.
“We felt that this property would be a good site for helping people move from homelessness to independence in a short time,” said Terry Galligan, deputy director for the city’s Housing and Community Development department. “They would stay at the property for up to 90 days, or until we find permanent housing for them.”
He said the city is partnering with Community Bridges Inc. to help oversee the program, Bridge Housing, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
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Some of the existing rooms need to be remodeled, Galligan said.
The 13,032-square-foot gated facility on Tucson’s west side was originally a home for the nuns who worked at St. Mary’s Hospital. In 2018, it was bought and turned into a halfway house for people who were transitioning out of jail.
Lanette Verneuil, senior property manager of Desert Cove, said there is an on-site chapel as well as a private room on the 4.5-acre site.
“I’m really excited about this new program coming,” she said.
According to the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness, from 2019 to 2020 there was a 60% increase in unsheltered homeless people in Pima County, from about 218 to 363.
There are thousands more homeless people who are receiving some form of shelter from different organizations.
Tucson's usually-dry Rillito River flowed steadily following monsoon storms that raged Thursday night into early Friday morning. These clips from Friday morning show running waters in washes near North First Ave., North Campbell Ave. and North Swan Road.
Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at grico@tucson.com
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