New center in Tempe to provide education, job, housing services

By Christina Estes
Published: Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - 6:39pm
Updated: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - 8:06am

Tempe will join a hundred other communities across the country offering EnVision Centers.

A vacant building at 1310 E. Apache Blvd. is being refurbished to become the EnVision Center and Resilient Energy Hub.

In a video from last week’s state of the city address, Councilmember Lauren Kuby explained the concept.

“The facility will provide community support for health and social services and serve as a community emergency response center during extreme weather. We’re installing new LED lighting, new air conditioning, and we’re looking at options for solar carports with battery storage to assist with emergency preparedness,” Kuby said.

Tempe expects to open the building in 2022. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development created EnVision Centers to empower people to become self-sufficient.

Tempe plans to offer GED classes, job placement services, housing help, parenting programs and child care services.  During the summer it will serve as a heat relief location for residents in need.

Inside an EnVision Center
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Inside an EnVision Center opened in Washington, D.C., in 2018. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development created EnVision Centers to empower people to become self-sufficient.