Tom Simplot named director of Arizona housing department

Former Phoenix City Councilman Tom Simplot will take over as director of the Arizona Department of Housing “to spearhead a new state effort to combat homelessness and housing instability,” Gov. Doug Ducey announced Wednesday.

Simplot replaces outgoing Director Carol Ditmore, who has led the department since 2017.

“When I was approached about the possibility, I immediately jumped at the chance,” Simplot told The Arizona Republic. “The timing is crucial and with the federal funding that will become available and is available and with the surge in homelessness on our streets, it feels as if this is our time as a community, as a state, to really address this in a meaningful and sustainable way.”

Ducey also announced $500 million of federal funds to combat homelessness in Arizona. The money comes from the stimulus packages approved by Congress in December 2020 and March 2021.

Simplot served on the Phoenix City Council from 2003 to 2013. He later served as president and CEO of the Arizona Multihousing Association, a trade association representing the apartment industry in Arizona.

Most recently, Simplot was the chief operating officer of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C.

“Tom has years of invaluable experience and leadership in enhancing housing options and supporting populations in need. I look forward to working with Tom closely to ensure at-risk Arizonans have a roof over their heads,” Ducey said in a statement.

Homelessness summit promised

Simplot said one of his first priorities is to convene all stakeholders working in and around the issue of homelessness.

He said Ducey asked him to initiate a summit to discuss homelessness solutions with Arizona mayors, nonprofit organizations, for-profit housing providers and mental health agencies.

“Everybody, I believe, realizes we have to come together and do this together,” Simplot said.

In March 2020, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego — who has called on Ducey to do more to address homelessness — asked Ducey to convene all Maricopa County mayors to address homelessness with a regional approach.

She said Ducey initially agreed but weeks later, the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the state, and the meeting never occurred.

Simplot said he is committed to working collaboratively to ensure all stakeholders are at the table to quickly enact solutions to Arizona’s homelessness problem.

Homelessness has increased in Maricopa County by 32% since 2017. At least 7,419 people were experiencing homelessness in January 2020, according to the Maricopa County point-in-time count — although experts say it was likely a significant undercount.

“We as a community can no longer afford to ignore what is happening,” Simplot said.

Evictions an immediate concern

Since the pandemic began, tens of thousands of Arizona renters have struggled to pay their rent.

Many renters have been protected from eviction by several local and national eviction moratoriums.

The only remaining moratorium is set to expire June 30, leaving many housing advocates concerned about mass eviction this summer.

Simplot said he’s hopeful the state has enough time to help renters before the June 30 deadline. He said he will prioritize getting rental assistance to people in need.

“We know (the deadline is) coming. It’s no big surprise. And on the other side, there has to be an equitable solution here,” Simplot said. “Landlords need to be at the table, and there is relief available for landlords, and we need to ensure that that funding that is available gets to those who need it.”