Phoenix, AZ – February 12, 2026 – Voices For The Rare, an advocacy organization dedicated to empowering individuals with rare and complex physical disabilities, today announced a significant step forward in addressing Arizona’s critical housing gap. The organization has formally submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH), proposing the “Bridge to Care” Integrated Housing Pilot (BCHIP) and commencing the process for CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization) Certification.
This groundbreaking initiative seeks to expand the existing Section 811 PRA (Project Rental Assistance) program, specifically targeting ALTCS-enrolled individuals with rare and complex physical disabilities who require immediate and sustained proximity to Tier-1 medical centers.
Addressing a Critical Gap: Housing as Healthcare
“From my current medical recovery setting at BUMC, I have firsthand experience of the devastating fiscal and human cost of medical displacement,” states Holly Martinez, Founder & Executive Director of Voices For The Rare. “Our community faces unique challenges; existing housing programs often fail to accommodate the specialized needs of rare disease patients, leaving them vulnerable to repeated hospitalizations and a diminished quality of life. The ‘Bridge to Care’ pilot is designed to fill this critical void.”
Key Pillars of the “Bridge to Care” Pilot:
- Strategic Expansion of Section 811 PRA: Proposing an expansion of eligibility to include individuals with rare and complex physical disabilities, ensuring access to a continuum of care beyond traditional categories.
- Repurposing Underutilized Assets: Leveraging state legislation (SB 1080 and SB 1096) to identify and repurpose underutilized public and religious properties into dignified, medically-integrated housing communities.
- Proximity to Tier-1 Medical Centers: Ensuring all housing units are located within a 10-mile radius of essential medical facilities, reducing transportation barriers and improving health outcomes.
- Integrated Support Systems: Designing communities with ADA-compliant infrastructure, wide-path transit for mobility devices, accessible common areas, and coordination with in-home care services (AHCCCS H2O).
A Vision for Sustainable, Life-Sustaining Housing
Voices For The Rare has compiled extensive data highlighting the significant state expenditures associated with medical displacement and frequent readmissions. By providing stable, accessible housing, the BCHIP aims to not only enhance the lives of Arizona’s most vulnerable residents but also achieve substantial cost reductions for the state.
“We are eager to collaborate with the Arizona Department of Housing to present our findings and demonstrate how this pilot can create a scalable model for diagnosis-inclusive housing,” adds Martinez.
Call to Action: Support the “Bridge to Care”
We invite our community and supporters to learn more about the “Bridge to Care” pilot and to lend their voice in support. Your advocacy is crucial in making this vision a reality.
ACT NOW: Send a Letter of Support for the Bridge to Care Pilot
Body Text: We need your help to show the Arizona Department of Housing that our community is ready for change. Please copy and paste the email template below and send it to the state directors to let them know you support Voices For The Rare.
How to help in 3 minutes:
- Copy the text below.
- Open your email.
- Send to:
ruby.dhillon@azhousing.gov - CC:
info@voicesfortherare.org(So we can track our impact!)
SUBJECT: Public Support for Voices For The Rare & the BCHIP Pilot
Dear Director Dhillon-Williams,
I am writing to express my strong support for the Letter of Intent submitted by Voices For The Rare regarding their CHDO Certification and the proposed “Bridge to Care” Integrated Housing Pilot (BCHIP).
For too long, Arizonans with rare and complex physical disabilities have faced medical displacement because they do not fit into existing “referral boxes.” I support the expansion of the Section 811 PRA program and the repurposing of assets under SB 1080/1096 to provide life-sustaining housing near our state’s Tier-1 medical centers.
It is time for Arizona to lead the way in disability-inclusive housing. I stand with Holly Martinez and Voices For The Rare in their mission.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Your Zip Code]
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