STAR Village Marks 100 Days of Community Impact

Mollie Gamino at STAR Village

By Isabela Gamez Primavera Foundation The Primavera Foundation hosted a media day on Friday to highlight the first 100 days of Star Village, a safe, outdoor sleeping space for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Community leaders, partners, and media gathered on-site to see firsthand how the village is serving participants and strengthening Tucson’s response to homelessness. The event welcomed Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, who toured the property, spoke with residents, and learned more about how the program operates day-to-day. “In these 100 days, we are learning what’s working and what’s not working. I’m excited to be here to see how this is run and the people we’ve been able to help,” Romero said.  Star Village was created through a partnership between the City of Tucson, The Primavera Foundation, and Old Pueblo Community Services (OPCS), uniting city leadership and local nonprofits to launch an innovative housing model tailored to Tucson’s needs. “Former Tucson City Council Member Karin Uhlich and Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz visited Las Cruces and other cities to get ideas on how they’re doing it and bring it to Tucson,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “It really started with a community member, Victoria Devasto, who kept pushing the idea and saying, ‘We gotta do this.’ From there, we built something that reflects Tucson’s unique community.” Tisha Tallman, CEO of The Primavera Foundation, explained that while the Las Cruces model inspired the foundation of Star Village, the team intentionally adapted the program to meet local needs. “Las Cruces is the most similar to the model that we all thought would be best for our community. But Tucson is extremely unique. So we’ve done things to represent and bring in the community,” Tallman said.  Local leaders emphasized the broader housing challenges facing Tucson and how Star Village fits into a larger solution. “We realize there are gaps in shelter beds, transitional beds, and housing beds,” Tallman said.  “This is an acknowledgment by the city that we need to meet people where they are, assist them in transitioning, and provide case management and community. This is a proven model, based on national evidence and positive outcomes.” As Star Village reaches its 100-day milestone, The Primavera Foundation and its partners continue refining the program, guided by participant feedback, community collaboration, and a shared goal: ensuring access to housing in Tucson. STAR has had over 72 participants, with all receiving some service and 9 exiting to housing or shelter.