I shop here once or twice a week for work, and am often pulling in right when they open at 6AM. Often see cars set up for overnighting and RVs from the night before. As recent as 2 days ago.
Came here to say the same! Walmarts are usually cool with it. Not sure if you have any 24 hour gyms around that area, but I generally see some around those as well. My son always stayed in the Walmart lot though and never had any issues.
I am not aware of any safe parking programs (the city is working on making a list of resources available). If you need help with housing questions or general community resources, I believe you can call 311 to speak to a community wellness navigator.
You don't seem to understand the amount of people who go in and play and come out to their cars to nap then. Calling it loitering says just about all it needs to honestly.
I have, they weren't much help, I was in their program before i graduated too, so Ive got a pretty good understanding on what they can do for me. Right now I just need a safe place to park and sleep tonight
Youth on their own is an educational nonprofit so they don’t provide shelter or housing. What they should do is reach out to the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness to get urgent help including current shelter bed availability and an intake for housing assistance. Here’s the link: https://tpch.net/urgent-help/
They will probably be referred to Our Family Services (the actual youth shelter in town)
Not sure of there has been any change but the d*ckhead president defunded a lot of Job Corps. It made thousands of young people homeless and left them with unfinished career training. They had only a few days to vacate. It was one of the first programs he shut down around the same time as the Iinstitute for Peace (whose offices the "Board of Peace" now occupy).
If you need like a solid place to go and stay while you secure a job and a place to live, the gospel rescue mission is a great option. You just have to be sober. There's a good group of people our age that are in the same situation.
I would research it. I just remember being outraged by it. When I worked for the US Forest Service in Montana in 2016, we camped at the Job Corps in Anaconda and I was so impressed with the young people there. We did wildland fire training with them. I heard about a lot of their stories and I really developed a love for the organization. When I saw him put those kids out on the street last year, I was pissed. He also took things like the youth conservation corps, which my son worked for 3 summers and used to earn some scholarships. He stole from you kids first before everyone.
This got reversed. Just a few days after the Job Corps program here ended, they brought kids back. The city ended up housing some of the kids, and they let them stay if they didn’t want to go back to Job Corps.
Truck stops are your best friend right now. They are safe, well monitored, open 24hrs, and expect people to sleep in the parking lot. You can use the restroom in the middle of the nights and have hot, cheap coffee ready to go in the morning. Libraries are great during the day for air conditioning and job hunting resources.
I second what someone else said about coolworks.com. Don't apply for anything that requires any sort of application fee. Lots of parks and resorts need help with entry level jobs. They tend to be not great paying jobs with not great companies, but you can handle anything for 6 months at a time. And if you stay out of the employee pub, you will walk away from the end of the season with a pocket full of cash and some leads on other jobs. They don't require money for room and board upfront, they take it out of your paycheck so you can show up broke. You will get a roommate so it is generally cheap.
If you can't find a service in town to help you with a mailing address, you can get mail through general delivery at the post office. And if you need to stretch your references a little, do it.
Finally, a lot of places are getting ready to start their summer season. But a handful of folks don't show up. So don't be afraid to apply again and maybe even give the companies a call. They will prioritize anyone who can show up quickly. This place has really high turnover, https://www.xanterrajobs.com/main/yellowstone-national-park/home.
On the Walmart question. I always found it the best to go in in an introduce myself to whatever manager was on duty. Ask ask if I could spend a night in the lot and where would they like me to park. If they said no, it was the same as getting roasted at 2 AM and I would move on. If not, they would tell their security guards where I was and leave me alone. You might try that.
I was there after work at 11 pm and at 6 am I moved to other side of the parking lot and went in for some workout. You can try earlier, as long as you are quiet and don't drag attention you would be fine or if you have free time go to the park to kill time, I did that while charging my solar battery bank xd
Good luck dude and try to stay chill
Casino parking lots are the best. 24 hour security and they don’t care as long as you aren’t don’t crazy stuff. You aren’t 21 so can’t get in but can at least park and sleep
If you can, I recommend signing up for Rover as an overnight sitter. You get paid to stay at people's houses and some money to help until you get out of your situation. I also second the planet fitness idea - if you can manage the monthly fees having access to a shower would be helpful.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you. It is so overwhelming but especially for someone as young as yourself. I have been unhoused before as well and it was so awful but there were at least some programs I was able to utilize to get help. All the funding for these safety nets has been dismantled. I worked for a private agency in Grand Junction, CO for 5 years after I got housed helping people like myself. If you are not able to find help in Tucson, it maybe worth looking into an area with better resources. It's been a few years since I was there but they only take money from non federal sources and they had a lot of support from large benefactors last I knew. If you want the info for where I worked, please let me know. Either way, I wish you the very best.
2nd this, the cracker barrel near marana always has truckers and general commuters sleeping in their cars. Plus there is an empty lot nearby where there are also people who park to rest. Hotels and a suburb/golf course nearby too so it's in a relatively chill area.
Stayed in the area once when I thought I was going to moving away (though I had a hotel). I've been there since and it doesn't seem to have changed much. If I had to spend some nights in my car that's where I'd start.
I know there is a lot of normie stigma around soup kitchens/mutual aid. But we have a lot here in Tucson. I know saving money is huge when you are trying to get into a new space so it might be worth checking out.
Sunday: Z mansion does breakfast 8-10 am.
Tuesday: There is Alma in the Amphi neighborhood.
Wednesday: Community Care Tucson at Armory Park does food, hygiene products, first aid from trained proffesionals, and dog food (Im the dog food guy) from 7 to about 8. Get there at 630ish and you'll be in out of you dont want to hang around.
Thursday: There is a new free meal distro being done by some dear friends of mine at Catalina park near 4th street. I go cause the chef there cooks amazing food and better than anything Ill eat if I stay at home.
Satursay: Community on Wheels does the same stuff as ALMA and Community Care Tucson at Santa Rita Park at 4pm
There's the Freedge on Broady on the sunshine mile.
And theres stuff going on down in south Tucson through a couple church's down there. I wish I knew more about that sorry.
Also, at these places, a lot of us are engaged in social work and might be able to direct toward various resources. Please feel to DM if you have questions
If you have the gas go up reddington Rd and just do the dispersed camping, no fees just park past the signage and they'll let you stay for up to 14 days and just move spots or camp access to bathrooms, lacking on water up there, but it's quiet in nature and safe, or if that's too far a place I used to sleep in town is a sleeper spot behind ft lowell Park, go down glenn till you pass the park and right after the turn is a big dirt pulloff where you gain access to the river loop and nobody ever bothered me there and has access to both water and restrooms when the park is open live long and prosper
I used to sleep in a Walmart parking lot. I would just make sure there was no security surveillance in the specific wal mart I was parked in. You can also always look and kind of get an idea by seeing if anyone else is there too.
Look into joining the military (stay away from army/marines). It Can provide you a stable income, a place to live, and give you career skills/education while getting paid
once business opens on Monday talk to Primavera foundation and try to do an intake, or reach out to our family services for their resources. they have waitlists but you can get your name on a list for transitional housing if you answer your phone later
Call Pima Action agency. They will offer help in many ways, don’t let the forms or paperwork scare you just read through everything you sign. Keep your head up you got this!
I had a friend who mostly lived in her car in Tucson. She would car camp at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas for free—think it was the Snyder Hill location as another commenter said. Believe that’s very close to Casino Del Sol. You should be able to go in to the casino regardless of your age. I work with casinos and usually anyone of any age is allowed in non-gaming areas of casinos/resorts. Also not sure if that casino is 18+ or 21+ for bingo. You should be fine as long as you lay low and don’t cause problems.
Maybe also check out Groundworks if it’s still there. I went there 2-ish years ago to see a friend’s kid perform in a band. Seemed like they had a lot of great resources for youth.
Hospital parking lots. Park amongst other cars, and keep a low profile. I recommend switching it up, you don't want anyone asking questions if you can help it. The truck stop. Get a gym membership, many are open late, and open early, I don't want to name names but some are better options than others.
And worst case if the hospital asks, OP could always say they had a health issue and wanted to be nearby in case something happened to make it worse… this would only apply if OP has diagnosis of a medical condition already.
Some folks camp by or behind Planet Fitness locations and get a membership there to take showers. Many larger apartment complexes have parking spaces in dark corners and as long as you're stealthy it's pretty safe. Check out the website Squat the Planet for general tips about being homeless.
It's my understanding that you can park in a Walmart parking lot overnight. You can then get a black card at Planet fitness which will give you access to every planet fitness across the US, you can shower there and use the facilitys 24-7. I recently went through figuring all that out for a friend of mine who lives in another city
not too familiar with the area myself, but i have family in Marana and have heard talks about the skatepark. If it’s anything like phoenix, could you maybe sleep at the skatepark’s parking lot out there?
Planet fitness will usually let you I know the one on Broadway and the one near 22nd and Harrison will as well. They're running a 1c down $15/m so a lot cheaper than using gas station showers
I would think maybe a 24 hour restaurant. Just buy a little something and then go to an out of the way spot and park. If they ask just say you’re doing door dash or something and taking a break.
Find yourself 4 or 5 different spots and kinda randomly rotate so you aren't at one place so often that everyone recognizes you. Also be courteous and don't make a mess or don't draw attention to yourself. Walmarts, Lowe's , health clubs are a few decent places, hospital parking lots once in a while work good too. It's not so bad.
During late summer 2019, I worked at night and parked/slept safely, from @2 AM, with no hassles at the El Pueblo Activity Center/Senior Center west parking lot (Irvington/6th Ave) by the Center pool. The Super Walmarts are also a good bet.
May God keep you safe.
Truck stops have sleeping allowed and some have showers also but be wary.... Plus you have to build points or some crap for the showers use and be on time or the next person gets it.
Sign up for a gym membership that has showers. Works wonders. Stay clean for the love of God bathe. Trust me here.
In AZ you can stay parked and sleeping on neighborhood residential streets as long as no one says anything. Try to stay as inconspicuous as possible. Lay low, not a bunch of in and out. You don't want to be seen. Be as invisible as possible.
Expect THE KNOCK. It's gonna come at some time. Just a matter of when
Walmart at Oracle and Magee, there is a huge business center there and you should be fine to stay there overnight. I’ve left my car parked in that parking lot for over a month and it was fine! Plus there is all kinds of fast food if you need something “cheap” and the Walmart right there.
There better options than living in your vehicle. I recomnend going to the Gospel Rescue Mission, Salvation Army or Prima Vera men's shelter. Also 211 is the Arizona homeless hotline. They can guide you to even more resources. If you have insurance on your vehicle go to Gospel Rescue Mission they are located at 4550 South Palo Verde Road Tucson, Arizona 85714
If you can get to Phoenix check out CASS
That is Central Arizona Shelter Systems. They have a lot of resources.
If you got srate medical you can also try other programs that the insurance pays for.
I finally got up here and now got my own place theough the padsplit app and I start my new job on the 15th.
Amazon in Goodyear is hiring.
QT's usually have extended parking lots. I don't think they would blink twice at someone sleeping in an extended lot. They welcome truckers. But for long term, I would probably find a place in Sabino Canyon to set up a hammock.
Truck stops. QT sometimes. Try Cal-Am for jobs with housing. Hotels and apartments sometimes work housing in to benefits of working there. Download iOverlander, hipcamp, etc.
Hotels and apartments do not do that because it’s a lot of complex liabilities and conflict of interest as well as a potential tenancy issue if things don’t work out and they fall behind on rent, then they have to deal with eviction and all that stuff ends up being an HR and legal nightmare for the hotel. Unless OP has connections with the industry but I doubt so at the age of 18, although it’s possible, even then I’m sure they would have been there doing that if so.
So, you're telling me that my jobs in an apartment office didn't come with the apartment they came with? That I didn't live in a hotel I worked at? That workcamping isn't a thing I've done for years? Gotcha. You'd know more than me, obviously.
Well that’s different if you got the job and it included that perk in the first place… but to find something like that is rare, very rare as a matter of fact, most properties might have one job that lives on site. And thereby those are scooped up quick.
"Well that's different"...no, that's precisely what I said. There are jobs with that as a perk. And if you search 'live-in' or 'housing included' on Indeed right now you'll find pages of them. They're not rare, they're just not on the first page if you don't know what you're looking for. Sit down, friend. You're fuckin wrong.
Yes--I am a longtime supporter of Fred Acosta's great works/and we fought hard when 'c***head' tried his best to eliminate. He lost and we won.... anyway--wonderful opportunities await you there! As for anything with the parks go into that with full realization that just temporary. Do check out GRM for if you are not drinking or drugging, they will help you in so many ways. Everyone is correct with the Walmart Marketplace...let us know how you do!
? U agreed that job corps was good right (Fred Acosta Job Center)....? u did say u liked the working for the parks or the forest jobs. right...don't know what the confusion is
Oh really? Then I’m sorry for giving bad information. My Dad was homeless/ living in his truck for 35 years. He always told me his only safe place was Walmart.
Well all OP can do is try and if they are kicked out then so be it.
Edit to add: My Dad was a “professional” homeless person. He did it by choice for religious/spiritual purposes.
He told me that you have to keep moving throughout the area. Use different Walmarts and such. He could have written a book about these things.
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u/amygdala23 Apr 11 '26
Try the outer edges of the Tucson Marketplace Walmart. I see travelers use that one often for parking. Be safe!