Women's homeless shelter moving to W. University neighborhood

Sister Jose serves adult homeless women in Tucson by day, and, during the winter, up to 11 women by night.

The group plans to move to the West University area near North Seventh Avenue and East Fourth Street and become a full-service women’s shelter by late spring.

Jean Fedigan, the executive director and treasurer of Sister Jose Women’s Center, said they plan to expand because the shelter has more women who need help than they can serve at their current location just south of downtown. The group has been looking for a new site for about a year.

“These women deserve help within our community,” Fedigan said. “And we have a wonderful program in which we give them dignity and respect. And I think that’s important.”

Council Member Steve Kozachik, who represents the ward that includes West University, agrees with Fedigan.

“There is a vast need in the community for women’s shelters,” Kozachik said.

Sister Jose Women’s Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, first proposed a move to 700 N. Seventh Ave. last month and held a meeting with West University neighbors.

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“There are always people who are opposed,” Fedigan said. “But in general people have been very accepting and supportive.”

Kozachik said that his ward is mostly supportive of the move, and that Sister Jose’s has been responsive to most of the concerns brought up by the public.

Among the concerns is a school across the street that lets out at 3 p.m. Sister Jose’s day program — which provides women with a shower, a meal, a nap, laundry facilities and Wi-Fi — also gets out at 3 p.m., but after discussions decided to change their hours to work with the community.

People also were concerned that during off hours, the site would be vacant. Sister Jose’s agreed to keep someone on site all the time.

One concern Kozachik has heard is people are worried a women’s shelter will bring down their property values. He said residents should be reminded there are already several social service providers within West University. “They blend in to the neighborhood,” he said. “They (Sister Jose’s) are going to be part of the fabric of this neighborhood,” Fedigan said. “They aren’t going to stick out like a sore thumb.”

A public meeting about the plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 31 at City Hall, 255 W. Alameda.