The Primavera Foundation a big part of Tucson & El Tour

By focusing their efforts on the root causes of poverty and homelessness, the Primavera Foundation co-creates tangible ways for families and individuals to overcome barriers that kept them from obtaining safe, affordable, and permanent housing.

Nancy Bissell and Gordon Packard began the Primavera Foundation as a response to the growing numbers of homeless individuals on the streets of Tucson.

In 1983, guided by the principle that every individual has intrinsic worth and deserves to be treated with respect and compassion, they organized a large group of volunteers to begin the St. Martin’s Soup Kitchen. Initially the neighborhood filed a lawsuit to shut down the kitchen, and the court challenge went all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court. They continued to fight for their community and since then the Primavera Foundation has expanded far beyond a simple soup kitchen.

According to their website the Primavera Foundation has had over 33,000 visits across its locations each year. Program participants have the option of strengthening skills and assets, building suitable financial futures, obtaining employment, finding safe and affordable homes, and advocating for their rights while connecting with their community.

Additionally the foundation has expanded to offer support such as:

• Men’s shelter (including day shelter)
• Casa Paloma (women’s shelter, hospitality center and day shelter)
• Family Pathways (scattered site family shelter)
• Project Action for Veterans
• Transitional housing
• Paradise Motel (short-term stays)

This is only a piece of what they have to offer as they also include eight other opportunities for support and emergency services.

To learn more about what the Primavera Foundation has to offer and how to support them go to their website: https://primavera.org/our-story/

El Tour is delighted to welcome Primavera to this year’s race and help promote the strategy to create healthy, vibrant neighborhoods and communities.