Pima County closes Casa Alitas relief site

  

Pima County halted operations at Casa Alitas respite center on Sunday, January 26. The announcement was made three days prior to the closure. The support at Casa Alitas was provided to men, women, and children legally released into the United States while awaiting asylum hearings.  

  

While this marks the end of one chapter for Catholic Community Services, its mission to serve the most vulnerable in Pima County remains unwavering. CCS, an entity of the Diocese of Tucson, offers a wide range of programs—including housing support, behavioral health services, care for families and seniors, and assistance for those experiencing homelessness. Elena Dwyre, the Chief Executive Office of CCS said, “We will continue to meet the pressing needs of our community. The closure of Casa Alitas does not diminish the profound impact we have had on the lives of thousands of asylum seekers, thanks to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and supporters. We are profoundly grateful for their commitment and compassion.” 

  

As CCS navigates the transition, the organization said it is working closely with local officials to ensure that all parties affected by this change are supported. Dwyre said her team will provide updates as more information becomes available and remain committed to keeping its staff, supporters, and those it serves informed. 

  

In a press release, Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher said, “This will likely bring to a close one of the most significant humanitarian aid programs undertaken by Pima County and its regional partners in the County’s history,” she wrote. “Without the County’s leading role coordinating and obtaining the funding for the Temporary Shelter Program, more than a half-million people over the past six and a half years would have been left to fend for themselves on the streets of Tucson, Nogales, Douglas, and elsewhere in Southern Arizona. This noble and humane program has involved dozens of County and city of Tucson staff, numerous local governments and nongovernmental agencies, and the kind and tireless contributions of hundreds of volunteers.” It went on to read, “No other border community in the country achieved what Pima County and Tucson have over the past six years of this stressful and persistent humanitarian crisis. I hope you are as proud as I am about how the people of Pima County came together in a time of crisis to prevent suffering while also protecting our community,” Lesher said. 

 

A memo to the Pima County Board of Supervisors explained that the program was operational because of funds from the Department of Homeland Security's Shelter Services Program. The memo stated, "Under SSP rules, the County can only receive reimbursements when there are people receiving shelter services. DHS won’t pay for the costs of keeping an empty shelter on standby in case there are future LPAS releases. Moreover, part of an Executive Order signed by President Trump Jan. 20 indicates federal funding for programs like SSP may be put on pause while fund recipients are audited, further endangering the County’s budget." 

 

Dwyre thanks CCS donors and community partners for standing with the relief agency as it continues to live out the Catholic mission of compassion and service.