Tucson container home community takes shape

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - A housing community for those aging out of foster care is taking shape, and the homes built from shipping containers are only part of the plan.

Navigators will live on-site to help the young adults establish their new lives.

The young men and women who will live in homes built from shipping containers will have a roof over their heads but they’ll also have someone by their side as they navigate their new lives.

“That’s why it’s called ‘wholistic transformation.’ We don’t just want to work on just their physical needs; we want to address their mental and emotional needs, we want to address their spiritual needs,” explained David Hughes, a navigator for Wholistic Transformation-Changing Hearts, Minds, Communities.

Hughes explained how Wholistic Transformation-Changing Hearts, Minds, Communities will provide an environment where ten young adults aging out of foster care will live with the help of two navigators similar to himself.

“People can’t put in the amount of time that it takes to build long-term relationship and trust with young people and that’s what we’re trying to do here. We’re trying to set up a mentorship program that is a long-term commitment. We’re trying to set up these navigators that live on site with these young people to let them know we’re here for the long haul,” Hughes said.

The first home, built from two 20-foot containers side-by-side, shows how each of the twelve units will offer independence for its residents and opportunities to customize the cabinets and furniture. But as development moves along, the search also continues for residents and staff.

“We’re looking for mentors that want invest in young people’s lives and we’re also building trust with group homes and we have a relationship with DCS,” Hughes said.

Building this community continues to require planning so that the homes and the residents are ready at the same time.

“It’s going to take a lot of money, it’s going to take a lot of effort, at the very core of it, at the very heart of it, is just a desire to love and help people,” Hughes said.

The plan for the remaining eleven homes is to have the community up and running in less than a year January 2026.

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