Staff Reports | Community Updates
The Tempe Community Action Agency, which serves the equivalent of one of every seven Tempe residents, is announcing its ‘Building Resilience’ capital and program expansion campaign. This ambitious campaign will significantly enhance TCAA’s capacity to address the growing East Valley population who are encountering poverty, hunger and homelessness.
The capital campaign supports the construction of a new site and permanent home for the agency, according to a press release.
Found at 2425 E. Apache Blvd., the headquarters will serve as a regional hub for TCAA’s programs that address housing, economic, and food security, the release states.
The larger, modernized facility will assist TCAA in extending its homelessness prevention, shelter and bridge housing, food security, and economic empowerment programs, creating a stronger support network fostering stability and self-sufficiency for clients, including:
- 2,300-square-foot market-style food pantry allowing people to better select food that aligns with their preferences and dietary needs.
- 2,000-square-foot operating kitchen supporting meals for participants housed at the new facility, city senior centers, Meals on Wheels programs and other recipients.
- 3,000-square-foot space to accommodate multiple workstations and meeting areas dedicated for resource navigation, financial aid and economic empowerment programs addressing poverty and homelessness prevention.
- 80 new transitional housing and emergency shelter beds.
The building is anticipated to open by May 2026, coinciding with TCAA’s 60th anniversary. It will feature all-inclusive and trauma-informed design elements and provide collaborative workspaces for public and private partners, officials there tell the Digital Free Press.
“TCAA has grown tremendously since its creation in 1966. This campaign is a bold response to the evolving social service needs across East Valley communities,” said Deborah Arteaga, CEO of TCAA. “Every day, our staff and volunteers aim to be agile with our support and continue to meet clients where they are, no matter their circumstances. This new facility will play a pivotal role in strengthening family and community resilience.”
Over the past decade, demand for TCAA’s human service programs has steadily multiplied each year as economic and social challenges have intensified for the community.
“The demand for the types of services TCAA provides could not be more urgent. We’re extremely proud to have raised the majority of funds needed to complete this campaign, and we embrace the challenge to raise the $6 million remaining to complete this project,” said Capital Campaign Cabinet Co-Chairpersons Charles and Linda Redman.
Donor support will benefit more than 40,000 clients served annually across the East Valley (a 15% increase from current service levels), improve food security by providing more than one million meals annually through TCAA’s expanded senior nutrition, food pantry and housing programs (a 100% increase over current volumes) and enhance community safety and housing security through sheltering 400 adults and seniors annually.
Additionally, the nonprofit anticipates a 25% increase in services needed for young families receiving early prenatal care, childhood development and family strengthening services.
